| Most children can be taught word recognition at a very | | | | own vocabulary, it will again increase her recognition of |
| young age. How? It is a similar method to learning | | | | the written word. |
| to talk – children learn to talk by being exposed to | | | | |
| people talking around them. To learn visual word | | | | You should not have a preconceived schedule of |
| recognition children need, first of all, exposure to the | | | | success. There is no fixed time frame here. Your |
| written word, in print. | | | | child could learn within days, weeks, or even months. |
| | | | | Each child is different and your child’s ability will not |
| Use children books with interesting stories. Picture | | | | be tested, but yours will. Your attitude, your patience, |
| books with few or no words in them will not teach | | | | your perseverance, all of these will be tried and |
| your child to read. However, exposure to | | | | tested. You will find yourself having to evolve your |
| children’s books with many pages of print and the | | | | own method for making your child love it. |
| occasional picture will trigger your child’s curiosity | | | | |
| about the story as well as familiarizing him or her with | | | | You can use your imagination on your own teaching |
| the written word. If, as you read to your child, you | | | | methods. A teacher friend of mine had her own |
| point to the words with your finger, your child will | | | | method of teaching her daughter. She would hide a |
| become more familiar with those words. Eventually | | | | card with a word written on it behind her and |
| he or she will begin to recognize the words when he | | | | approach her child playfully saying “What does |
| or she sees them, especially those with a high | | | | mommy have for her baby” The one-year-old |
| emotional attachments | | | | would look up and try to reach for the mysterious |
| | | | | object. Then her mother would bring out the card |
| Flashcards can also be used to reinforce names of | | | | and say with gusto “Cat!” The child’s |
| objects in the child’s environment. To teach your | | | | delightful laughter proved that the game was having |
| baby to read, on pieces of 10 x 10 inch plain white card, | | | | the desired effect. In no time at all, the child could |
| write words, in capital letters, that describe toys that | | | | read words. Soon she went on to short sentences. |
| belong to your child, for example “elephant’, and | | | | Her mother bought various simple books and every |
| on another card ‘dog” and so on. Play the | | | | one held a treasure trove of knowledge for her young |
| following game with your child. Place all the toys on | | | | daughter. By the time she was four, the little girl |
| the floor. As your child picks up a toy, show him the | | | | surprised everybody with her familiarity with words |
| card with the word on it and say the word together. | | | | and sentences. This mother’s success was due |
| Repeat it as man times as he or she likes. Then | | | | to her belief in her child, her healthy attitude, her |
| read to your child a story about an ”elephant” or | | | | patience, and her playfulness, which made her |
| a “dog” or whatever animal or character you | | | | daughter look forward to every “reading game” |
| made word cards for. This will reinforce the word in | | | | |
| your child’s mind, building word recognition abilities | | | | In the same way, you too can work out your own |
| and increasing vocabulary. Additionally, invite your | | | | method for stimulating your child’s interest in the |
| child to tell you a story, and you listen, write it down. | | | | written word. It will be a success because of your |
| When your child has finished, read the story back to | | | | great love for your child. And trust me, every second |
| him or her and point to each word as you go. | | | | will be worth it. |
| When your child sees words in the context of her | | | | |