While every parent wants their child to learn to read well, many parents do not understand the underlying skills that make children develop into strong and effective readers. The two greatest gifts that parents can give their children are a well developed vocabulary and the joy that comes from playing with letters and sounds. Forcing a child to try to “read” words on a page or memorizing flash cards with words or words and corresponding pictures is not learning to read. Learning to read starts with associating the sounds of the letters with the letters themselves. It begins with listening to good books and enjoying the “story” that is being told. For young children, it is listening to the same books over and over again until they can recite or “read along” with the parent. It is anticipating what will come in the next line or even on the next page. It is listening to the “lilt” of language and playing with rhyme and rhythm. This is the backbone of learning to read and becoming a strong and capable reader. So, stop wasting your money on products that promise “your baby can read” if you just buy my perfect product. It is a waste of time. Start spending time teaching your child to love the sound of words and the fun of stories you share with him. Before you know it, when the time is right for your child, your child will be “reading” right along with you and developing the skills that will enable him or her to be a capable and avid reader.
