As your child’s first and most important teacher, you play a vital role in preparing your child for school.
Ask your child questions about the story you’re reading and make predictions.
Book family time to read with your child everyday.
Create a special reading place in your home, with favourite books within reach.
Don’t forget kids’ magazines, poems, and nursery rhymes.
Encourage your child to read words on street signs, mugs, T-shirts, and cereal boxes.
Find ways to help your child describe his feelings like frustrated, disappointed, excited, and surprised.
Give simple one- and two-step instructions to follow (i.e. put your shoes away and feed the dog, please).
Have your child perform simple tasks to help build self confidence.
If you don’t know the answer to a child’s question, look it up together.
Join your child in their play and encourage their imagination.
Keep books handy — in the car, kitchen, family room, etc.
Listen carefully to your child and show you are interested in their ideas.
Make collections of buttons, stones, etc. and sort by colour, shape, or size.
Numbers should be fun and connected to real life (we need six spoons and four more cups). Talk about size (a big truck, a small ball), quantity (a full cup, empty bowl) and order (your turn first, my turn second.
Opportunities for your child to be messy with paint, playdough, water, etc. encourages creativity.
Play dates are important so your child learns to get along with others and share.
Quiet games, like Go Fish or Snakes & Ladders, that require taking turns are fun.
Reassure and comfort with a cuddle —listen to and accept your child’s fears.
Sing songs and learn finger plays to increase interest in language.
Talk to and listen to your child — ask about their day’s activities and plans for tomorrow.
Use words that give direction — (put it beside your bed. Look under the pillow).
Visit the public library often and get your child their own library card.
Write messages to your child.
Exercise — play active games with your child like tag, hide and seek, throw and kick a ball.
You can set a good example — let your child see you read for pleasure.
Zap off the TV sometimes — pick up a book or play a board game instead.
