Helping your child build strong reading skills at home is a great way to set them up for success in school. Early reading skills are crucial because they lay the foundation for future learning. Mastering skills like letter naming and letter sounds helps children decode words, build vocabulary, and become confident readers. The stronger these early skills are, the easier it is for children to tackle more complex reading tasks as they grow. By practicing these activities regularly, you can help your child master essential early reading skills, setting them up for long-term reading success.
Here are a few fun, engaging activities you can do together at home:
- Letter Naming Scavenger Hunt: Write letters on index cards and hide them around the house. Ask your child to find each card and name the letter out loud. You can make it even more exciting by timing them and giving small rewards when they find all the letters!
- Alphabet Soup: Fill a bowl with magnetic letters and have your child “stir” the soup with a spoon. As they pull out each letter, ask them to name it. This simple activity combines play with learning, making it perfect for young readers.
- Letter Sound Hopscotch: Draw a hopscotch grid outside with chalk, filling each square with a letter. As your child hops, they must say the letter’s sound. This blends movement and learning, helping reinforce both letter recognition and phonics.
- Sound Sorting Game: Gather objects around the house that start with different letter sounds. Help your child sort them by the first sound they hear. For example, a sock and a spoon would go in the “S” pile.
What are some other reading games and activities that you like to do together?
Mrs. Jennifer Gresser, K-5 MTSS Supervisor
Lehigh Valley Academy RCS 