For as long as I can remember I have always loved literature. I received this wonderful gift from my parents. My father loved to read novels, and the Bible. My mother loved to read cookbooks and is a collector of historical memorablia. They would then share what they had enjoyed and observed with us.
In the article, Everyday Literacy Experiences: Talking, Listening, Reading, and Writing, the National Center for Family Advocacy has identified seven things to implement to create fertile ground for literacy growth in children.
- Help children to learn to listen to you, to others, and the world around them.
- Create a special place in the home for reading relaxation.
- Make books available to them. Present age/developmentally appropriate genre.
- Visit the library, and let your child help choose the books that will be read.
- Introduce your child to different mediums of print (newspapers, flyers, signs, cards, letters, recipes). This will develop their understanding of the purpose of each.
- Give your child opportunities to write. Keep a notebook handy so that they may record their observations, and perceptions.
- Talk with your child. Help them develop their abilities to understand words, and their context.
And most importantly, read with your child, and let your child see you reading. When you are seen reading, the importance of reading grows in the mind of the child. They will more readily interact with various forms of communication.
