The first step to helping your child be on her way to reading is to make sure your child can identify the letters of the alphabet. At around 3yrs children should be able to do this. Next, buy a box of alphabet picture cards. These cards have at least one picture for each letter of the alphabet. For example 'A' for Apple. Look at these pictures with your child and ask them what letter they see and then explain that the picture begins with the letter. Make the sound of the letter and then say the word. Using 'A' again you can say "a says a-a-a for apple". Another way to make it fun is "a is for apple... a-a-a". Looking at these cards allows your child to start recognizing the written words of common and familiar objects. You should also tell your child other words that begin with the letter you are looking at as well (ex. 'a' is also for alligator, ant, etc) This way although your child cannot read yet, she will be used to hearing what letters words start with. Always use your child's name in this list and the names of others in the family. For instance if your child's name is Madison, when you get to the letter M, ask your child whose name starts with this letter or say "M is for Madison". Children catch onto this very quickly!
Another good practice to help your child recognize words is to have their name on things so they can identify it. If your child is not in school yet, write the names of family members on separate pieces of paper and have your child identify her name out of the group.
Next, go get a pack of flash cards with Sight Words in them. A Sight Word is a word that is recognizable without sounding it out. Children can begin to recognize simple 2 and 3 letter words. Some examples are: "and", "the", "at", "on", "I", "me" etc. Children learn sight words in each grade, so make sure that you are not buying sight words meant for 3rd graders for your 4 or 5 year old. Look at the words and read them with your child, then have her repeat the word. If you do this consistently enough, your child should begin to recognize the words on her own.
Lastly, a fun activity is to help your child make her own alphabet book using construction paper. Each page should be a different letter of the alphabet with that letter written on the top of the page. Look at flyers and magazines and cut out pictures of objects beginning with that letter. Then glue the pictures onto the construction paper and write the names of the words under the pictures. Next, hole punch the sides and tie the pages together using your ribbon of choice. When you are finished, your child will have her very own alphabet book that she helped create. You two can look at it over and over again giving your child a more personal aid to word recognition. Be creative and make it fun because after all... you know what they say.... Reading is Fundamental.
