Helping is Learning!

Has your child now mastered his letters and letter sounds? Here is a great next step that can go alongside sight word learning and letter blends. This is a great learning activity for your child that you can use anywhere. In fact, I even used this today with my 2 year old while grocery shopping this morning and it works great! It is a good next step for your learner to help them start reading by giving them confidence while making it into a fun game.

While grocery shopping, I told my son I needed help looking for something. Now it doesn't have to be something you actually need, but it prompts their desire to help. Make sure your child is in close proximity at first so they have an easy chance of seeing it without having to look too far from their normal line of sight.

I am looking for a bag of chips called CH.....EEEE.....TOES. It starts with the CHUH, CHUH, then EEEEEEEE, TUH, TUH, TOES.....CHEETOS, do you see it?

Notice I broke down the sounds so they are easy for the child to process. As they improve, you won't have to break it down as much or repeat, but it prompts your child to listen for the sounds in a word. When they start reading on their own, they will have to break down the sounds too.

Note: It is best you don't use brands or products that they probably already know. If their favorite chip is Doritos and they know the bag, they are identifying the bag and not the word.

Not all words have to be product names. Signs like MEAT, DAIRY, EXIT, and so many others work just fine. Also, don't be afraid of larger words. You are still reading the word and they are identifying the parts inside. Remember, it never hurts to up the challenge a little.

Have younger children with you or is your child not ready for the words yet? Look for letters or colors. I need to buy fruit that is orange, do you see any?

Does this only have to be done in a store? Absolutely not! Find words in stories, or titles of books. I am looking for a book that has "______" in the title. Can you help me?

To switch things up at home, make labels for your child as seen in this previous post, Mastered ABC's? Try this! Not only does it work on early reading, spelling, and writing, but it works on their common first sight words too! Make labels for lunch or snack time. Apple, crackers, juice, popcorn, grapes, etc. would be fun labels to make so your child can match them up for snacktime.

I hope you enjoy this activity with your child. Keep using that magic touch! You are doing great! Don't forget to share!