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When children go off to school for the first time, one of the things teachers look for is their reading readiness skills. This includes knowledge of the alphabet, letter symbol recognition and beginning sound recognition. That is, does the child know what sound the letter symbol stands for? This is a very important first step in phonetic awareness. There are many ways a parent or teacher can instill this skill in a child and also have fun doing it.
Cut and paste activities are always a favorite with children. One activity includes cutting and pasting pictures. Next, the child tries to find the letter that the picture begins with to cut and paste next to the picture. For example, a child may find a picture of a big colorful beach ball that he or she really likes. The child will cut it out and paste it to his or her paper. Next, the child discusses with the adult the sound that ball begins with. When the child has been guided to the fact that ball begins with the letter "b," then he or she searches for a "b" to cut out and paste next to his or her ball. You can expand this by requiring the child cut and paste a capital and lower case "b."
Another cut and paste activity includes cutting a large "B" from construction paper. The child searches for pictures that begin with "B." Remember, while your child is doing this to keep a running dialogue going with your child so you can keep a keen ear open to what he or she is thinking. Knowing what your child is thinking while he or she is doing an activity will help you understand any mistakes he or she may make. You may wish to help you child label his or her pictures in order to encourage word recognition as well.
A fun activity to get the whole household involved is to make a supply of each letter on small cards. As you go through your daily routine each day, talk about the objects you and your child use. Encourage him or her to explore what each object's name sounds like focusing on the beginning sound. When he or she has figured out a beginning sound allow him or her to tape that letter to the object. For instance, when he or she realizes that toothbrush starts with a "t" he or she should then tape a little card with a "t" on it to the toothbrush.
Make a Beginning Sounds Maze. Use a large piece of freezer paper and either draw or glue pictures of things that begin with each of the letters of the alphabet to it in a maze type pattern. Allow your child to trace the maze, going from A to Z according to the beginning sounds of each picture. This can also be done with life size articles through out the house.
Or, you can do a scavenger hunt. First your child must find something that begins with "A," and then he or she finds something that begins with "B," and so on. Once all the items are collected take a picture of your child in the middle of the items so you both can remember what a wonderful thing your child has accomplished.
While riding in a car, point out things of interest and have your child figure out the beginning sounds of each item. For example, if you see a train, point it out and have your child work on figuring out that train begins with a "t." Or, if you see a mall, encourage your child to sound out the beginning of mall to discover that mall begins with "m." You could even reward your child with French Fries if he or she can figure out that restaurant begins with an "r."
You can play "I Spy" in this manner, also. All you have to do is say, "I spy with my little eye, something that starts with a 'b." Then give more clues about it as you go on with your game. During this help your child remember they are looking for something that begins with the specific letter you stated in the first clue.
However you go about helping your child to get ready to read, make sure you keep it creative and exciting. This will help your child feel like he or she is a part of what he or she is learning. It will also increase his or her motivation and interest level in what he or she is learning. If you can find a way to turn it into a game, you'll not have any problem getting your child involved with learning this or any other skill.
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