Preparing for Kindergarten Reading

Helping your child learn to read is a simple process once you have learned a few important principles

Preparing for kindergarten reading is one of the most important steps that you can take to make certain your child is ready when he or she enters school. There are many skills that your child will need to master in order to be successful in his or her education, and reading is first and foremost. Helping your child prepare for kindergarten reading should begin when he or she is still in the womb. Research has shown that the best way to prepare children for kindergarten reading is to read to them. By daily reading to your child you are teaching him or her that reading is important as well as enjoyable. You are also helping your child make many connections between words and language.

Children must know their alphabets and understand that each letter makes its own sound to begin kindergarten reading. Reciting the alphabet song with your child during his or her preschool years is an excellent way to ensure that your child will know the alphabet thoroughly by the time he or she is in kindergarten. During the preschool years, teach your child his or her name. This is a great way to introduce him or her to a number of letters as this reinforces letter recognition. After he or she learns these letters you can begin to introduce additional letters. Videos, DVDs, and computer games can all be used to reinforce the alphabet and letter recognition. Once your child is familiar with all 26 letters of the alphabet and knows their sounds, they will be prepared for kindergarten reading.