7 Simple Ways to Help Your Child Read with Preschool Phonics Online
by Mary Follin
There are a multitude of ways to help your child read with preschool phonics online. Poems, songs, alphabet games—all at your fingertips, thanks to the internet. But if you are ready to systematically help your child read with preschool phonics online, you will want to make sure to choose a child-centered approach.
When you are working with your child (or anytime, for that matter!), does she wiggle a lot? Does he want to show you what’s on the bottom of his shoe ? Does she look at everything but what you are trying to get her to focus on?
Of course. But fortunately, teaching reading online with phonics is simple, straight-forward, and consists of building blocks that can be broken down into tiny segments. For very young children, you want to keep the experience as short as possible. Don’t be tempted to plant your child in front of a screen and expect him or her to learn.
Take a look below for 7 easy ways to help your child read with preschool phonics online.
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Teaching phonics to preschoolers lays a crucial foundation for success in school—and in life. Phonics, the relationship between sounds and letters, equips young learners with essential skills for reading and writing. Engaging preschoolers in phonics activities fosters early literacy skills and sets the stage for future academic success.
Phonics is all about sounds, which children love! By using games, songs, and interactive activities, you can make learning phonics a blast for your child (and for you, too). Activities such as letter scavenger hunts, rhyming games, and phonics-based storybooks capture children’s attention while reinforcing the association between letters and sounds.
Help Your Child Read with Preschool Phonics Online. Keep it Simple with These 7 Tips.
1) Keep it short.
Three to five minutes a day, three to five days a week is the maximum amount of time you will want to spend on lessons. This will help make sure your child stays engaged during each lesson. (As an added bonus, you will always leave your young pupil wanting more!)
2) Praise your child
Reward her with hugs and applause, even when things seem to be moving slowly. There are certain personality-types that will do anything for praise. If your child is one of those, hang a chart on the wall and put a gold star on it each time you finish a lesson. Take her to tea when she earns a week’s worth of stars.
3) Be creative.
Draw a picture of a word after she reads it. Or balloons when she gets her sounds right.
4) Get moving.
To keep your child physically engaged, let him blow bubbles or throw a ball each time he reads a word correctly.
5) Make it cozy.
Ideally, lesson time is on-your-lap time. If your child doesn’t get enough of this on most days, spending time on your lap will help keep him still. (Not too much time, though. You’ve got a short window before your child will want to get down.)
6) Check your child’s vitals.
Make sure your child is comfortable, well-fed and rested before you begin each lesson.
7) Give it up.
If it becomes too much of a struggle, stop and pick up where you left off next time. Sometimes, it’s a good idea to set the materials aside for a few weeks—or months. Take your cue from your child. She might be letting you know that she’s not ready yet.
The early years are exciting learning years. There’s no hurry, no rush. Enjoy this time you spend with your child, and please don’t attach any goals to your progress. ANY amount of time you spend on reading concepts with your child now will ensure a strong start to developing a strong, independent reader.
By introducing phonics at an early age, you will empower your preschooler to decode words independently and lay a strong foundation for fluent reading and writing in the future. Effective phonics instruction nurtures a lifelong love of language and learning in young children, setting them on a path towards literacy success.
