A...B...See?

Teaching letters to a child isn’t always the easiest of parental endeavors. In fact, it can be nearly impossible at times. Since kids learn differently, there’s no one, foolproof way to teach them. Hopefully, though, some of these tips will make your job a little easier:

- As you begin teaching letters, start with the first letter of your child’s name and then continue with the first letters of other meaningful words—mom, dad, your last name, siblings’ names, etc. Kids learn best when what they are learning relates to them.

-Rather than quizzing your child on letters in a book, point out different letters as you’re reading. Kids can pick up a lot through this method, and it’s far less stressful for them.

-As you go through the day, point out different letters you see (on road signs, at the store, on food labels, in books, etc.). Encourage your child to participate in finding letters, too. This is a great way to pass the time in the car.

-Feel free to skip around when reading alphabet books. They are great resources to help teach letters, but you don’t need to read them as you would a typical book. Try letting your child pick out which pages to read and discuss.

-Play a game in which you have your child think of words that start with a certain letter. Start with words that begin with the first sound in your child’s name, and go from there. Research indicates that it’s best to teach the name and sound of a letter together.

-Come in and check out our adorable alphabet table in the children’s room! Kids love singing the alphabet while walking around the table, pointing out the different letters (and we love watching it!).

-Find these books and more on our "All About the Alphabet" booklist:
 Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin, Jr.
 ABC, Baby Me! by Susan Katz
 Take Care of Me from A to Z by Harriet Ziefert

Open. Read. Repeat.

Have you ever wondered why children like to hear or read the same book over and over again? As frustrating as it is for parents, reading the same book for what seems like the 1000th time to your child actually has some benefits. Young children thrive on predictability and routine, so when you read them a book they already know, it comforts them. It also provides an opportunity for children to learn new ways to look at the same book; when they're already familiar with the story, they can concentrate on different aspects of it each time. Try reading the same book a different way to help your child make new connections.

On Thursday November 1, Miss Amy and I will help parents learn how to do this with Bill Martin's Chicka Chicka Boom Boom. Part of the Public Library Association's Every Child Ready to Read worshops, we'll show participants how to use talking, singing, reading, writing, and playing to build on this alphabet story. Parents and children (ages 0-5) attend the workshop together and registration is required, so don't delay! And the next time your child asks to read a book again, indulge her; it's good for her brain! Guest post by Shelly P.