READ to your child

Never stop reading to her. Even when she can do it all on her own. I admit, I kinda slowed down on reading with my girls over the last few years but my oldest just got Charlotee's Web the other day and she asked me to read it to her. And I loved it. She loved it.  The story and spending time with each other. Perfectly needed.

Dr. Laura asks  "But why give up such an important time to connect with each other emotionally?  Why give up the chance to read books that trigger good discussions about values and choices and hardships and hope?   Don’t stop till she fires you." Read more here http://www.ahaparenting.com/Default.aspx?PageID=1280625&A=SearchResult&SearchID=7650494&ObjectID=1280625&ObjectType=1

I read the whole book!

My little 4-year old is getting ready for the big K next year.  For Christmas we bought her BOB Books Sight Words Kindergarten...and she is in love reading now.  Sight words are common words appearing over and over in your kiddie's reading. You get 10 little books for 12 bucks on Amazon.  Each book has simple stories and short vowels. There's also lots of repetition and your little one will feel very successful after reading a 12 page book. Read on...

BOB Books

Reading Step 1 - Kid Tips

So we are still on step 1 of "How to Teach Your Baby to Read". Each week I show the girls 25 new words a week. Here's what's working the best: I show a set of 5 words on Monday three times a day. Usually once before they go to school and daycare and then two more times when we all get home. On Tuesday, I add 10 new words and thrown in 10 more new words on Wednesday. Thursday and Fridays are just showing all 25 words again. By Friday the girls have seen the first set of words 15 times. I can tell it's working. Janae begins reading the first set of words as I hold them up by Wednesday. If you have tried to teach your kid and stopped, try again! If you are thinking about doing it, try! Ages 0-5 are the best ages for kids to learn. Be patient and positive. Do not give up. Keep it fun! Keep it short. Do not test your baby, just show them the words.

Reading babies - kid tips

I'll admit it. I was curious when I saw some infomercials with 13 month old babies reading. I mean really! So I whipped out my library card and checked out (gotta heart free) How to Teach your Baby to Read. The book explains for example, a 3 year old who is missing part of his brain who learns how to crawl, then walk, then read! When he enters 1st grade he is reading at a 7th grade level. Our kids have so much potential and we wait so long to give them the opportunity to learn! So never one to not pursue some kiddie opps, I am officially teaching my toddlers how to read.

Here's the skinny on step 1: create 100 flash cards of words your child loves, show them in sets of five, one at a time, 3 x a day for a week. Each day add another set of five cards. You show them for one second each, don't test them, just say the word and move to the next. Keep it fun, painless and make sure you give them mad props with a big hug after wards and let them know how proud you are! Step 2 info is coming. Too tired to make the cards? Order some here.