Parent Tips

Parent Tips...

Your Library is a Great Place for Language Development Resources

Experts say the time from infancy to age five is crucial to language development. Libraries today provide valuable language development resources for parents. Some even give free kits to new parents. These might contain tips on how to help your child develop language skills. They suggest books, games, songs and other activities. Plus they may list good books on parenting.

Libraries also have special programs for children. Usually these programs are free. They might include:

	An assortment of age-appropriate books. Look for hard backs and paperbacks, books with cardboard pages, cloth books, picture books and books on tape.
	Group activities for preschoolers such as films, arts and crafts, and puppet shows. Special reading programs may give children a certificate for having "read" or listened to a certain number of books.
	Parent-child story hours for infants.
	Read-alouds for toddlers.
	Finger plays, songs, rhymes and other activities. Once you learn these, you can use them at home with your child.
	Magazines. Some are for your child, others help you with parenting.
	Cassette recordings of stories and songs.
	Educational videotapes and compact discs.
	Puppets and educational toys.

As soon as you can, start taking your child to the library. Weekly trips are recommended-even for toddlers.

Help your child pick out her own books. Begin teaching her library etiquette. Preschoolers should know how to treat books. They should be quiet and considerate of others in the library.

Source: Katheryn Perkinson, Helping Your Child Use the Library, 1993.

Check out some libraries on the web such as http://www.frlib.org the Flat Rock Library has many great programs.

Riverview Public Library

http://www.riverviewpubliclibrary.com

To read an excellent article on early signs of learning disabilities check out the website for Reading Rockets-

http://www.readingrockets.org/article.php?ID=119

Tips For Parents of Preschoolers

Read early and read often. The early years are critical to developing a lifelong love of reading. You can't start reading to a child too soon!

The tips below offer some fun ways you can help your child become a happy and confident reader. Try a new tip each week. See what works best for your child.

1. Read together every day. Read to your child every day. Make this a warm and loving time when the two of you can cuddle close.

2. Give everything a name. Build comprehension skills by playing games that involve naming objects. Say things like, "where's your nose?" Or touch your child's nose and say, "What's this?"

3. Say how much you enjoy reading with him or her. Talk about "story time" as the favorite part of your day.

4. Read with fun in your voice. Read to your child with humor and expression. Use different voices. Ham it up!

5. Know when to stop. Put the book away for awhile if your child loses interest or is having trouble paying attention.

6. Be interactive. Discuss what's happening in the book, point out things on the page, and ask questions.

7. Read it again and again. Go ahead and read your child's favorite book for the 100th time!

8. Talk about writing, too. Mention to your child how we read from left to right and how words are separated by spaces.

9. Point out print everywhere. Talk about the written words you see in the world around you. Ask your child to find a new word on each outing.

10. Get your child evaluated. Please be sure to see your child's pediatrician or teacher as soon as possible if you have concerns about your child's language development, hearing, or sight.

Taken from Reading Rockets