Before the First Day

If your young child is about to start attending a new school, you might want to plan a short visit before opening day. Consider calling ahead to see if a visit is possible. Or walk or drive by the grounds. Perhaps his teacher or a director or principal will be there and can talk to your child, show him around his new classroom. It might be a good time for him to get a preview, before the place is bursting with energy. That way, he will have a picture in his mind as he anticipates the first day . . . and it may help eliminate some possible jitters.

It is Early Literacy Awareness Week!

This is Reach Out and Read of Greater New York's third annual Early Literacy Awareness Week. Lots of activities promoting reading are taking place right now. And in case you need more reasons to read to your young chdlren this week . . . and every week, here are some right from their website:

What do parents with young children need to know about reading aloud?

• Children who live in print-rich environments and who are read to during the first years of life are much more likely to learn to read on schedule.
• Books contain many more words than children encounter in spoken language, helping to build and expand a child's vocabulary.
• The nurturing and one-on-one attention from parents while reading aloud encourages children to form a positive association with books and reading later in life.

The Reach Out and Read model partners medical professionals with reading experts to provide books to young children and encourage parents to read with their children. To find out more about this wonderful organization, check out the website.
http://www.reachoutandreadnyc.org

Calling All Chefs

Living out the pages of a book helps to bring a story to life. Plan a real or pretend meal, snack, or tea party that involves your child helping you cook. For example, you might choose to make stone soup, green eggs and ham, or milk and cookies. Take a picture of your child enjoying the meal and keep it on your refrigerator. It will be a feast to remember.

Stick to It

Many children have favorite books and some even have a particular section of the book that they especially love. Perhaps it is a funny picture or maybe the rhyming pattern is appealing. Show your preschooler an easy way to mark that favorite spot so he can easily return to it again and again. Introduce him to sticky notes. They are easy to apply, even for young children with developing fine motor skills. And sticky notes won't harm the pages of a book. Don't be surprised if he gets addicted to this marking system and every page gets a colorful sticky note!

Trains, Planes, and Buses

If your summer travel plans involve trains, planes, and buses, they also involve schedules. Use the opportunity to point out to your preschooler departure and arrival boards or printed schedules. Explain that flights might be named with a code number. Show him that a destination might be abbreviated. Make a point of reading the schedule aloud. This is a perfect way to show your child the importance of reading for making his way through the world.

Road Trip!

Are you planning to take family trip by car? Before you leave, stop at your public library and check out some audio books. The children's librarian may have suggestions for you. You might choose books that you know your young child enjoys and give her the opportunity to hear the story read by another person. Or try to find other books by her favorite authors. Or discover some completely new books. Audio books can make a long car trip into a pleasant journey for all!

Capture the Energy

Have you noticed how your preschooler is curious and eager to learn, open to new experiences? Capture that good energy. Provide opportunities to read with your child and expose him to lots of books and fun around reading. It is easy to fall into the trap of thinking that your young child has already decided that books are not fun. Maybe you grew up that way or perhaps even today you are not an avid reader.  Now is your chance to send your preschooler on his way to being a reader. Seek out books that you enjoy reading to your child. Your positive attitude and enthusiasm just may rub off on him.