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Stories for young children should be of all kinds--folktales, funny tales, exciting tales, tales
of the wondrous and stories that tell of everyday things.
What you'll need:
A variety of interesting books What to do:
Give your child many
opportunities to read and write stories, lists, messages, letters,
notes, and postcards to relatives and friends. Since the skills for
reading and writing reinforce one another, your child's skills and
proficiency in reading and writing will be strengthened if you help
your child connect reading to writing and writing to reading.
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Children love to be creative when it comes to drawing, and illustrations add visual imagery to stories.
What you'll need:
Drawing paper
What to do:
Find a fable, fairy tale, or other short story for your child to read. Then ask your child to illustrate a part of the story he or she likes best or describe a favorite character. Have the child dictate or write a few sentences that tell
about this picture.
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Use your weekly shopping trip as an opportunity to help your child develop reading and writing skills.
What you'll need:
Paper and pencils
What to do:
As you make out your grocery shopping list, give your child a sheet of paper and read the items to him or her. If the child asks for spelling help, write the words correctly for him or her to copy or spell the words aloud as your child wri
tes them. Ask your child to look through the newspaper ads to find the prices of as many items as possible. Your child can write these prices on the list and then look through your coupons to select the ones you can use. Take your child to
the supermarket and ask him or her to read each item to you as you shop.
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Cooking is always a delight for children, especially when they can eat the results!
What you'll need:
Easy-to-read recipes
What to do:
Show your child a recipe and go over it together. Ask your child to read the recipe to you as you work, and tell the child that each step must be done in a special order. Let your child help mix the ingredients. Allow your child to write
down other recipes from the cookbook that he or she would like to help make.
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A dictionary is a valuable learning tool, especially if your child makes up his or her own booklet of words that are challenging.
What you'll need:
Paper and pencils
What to do:
Encourage your child to make a dictionary by putting together several sheets of paper for a booklet. Ask your child to write at the top of each page a new word he or she has recently learned. If the word can be shown in a picture, have hi
m or her look through magazines and newspapers to find pictures that illustrate the words and paste them on the correct pages. Have your child write the meaning of each word and a sentence using each new word. Your child can then use some or
all of these sentences as the basis for a creative story. Have your child read this story to you and other family members.
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Keeping a journal is a way for your child to write down daily events and record his or her thoughts.
What you'll need:
Two notebooks - one for your child and one for you! What to do:
Help your child start a journal. Say what it is and discuss topics that can be written about, such as making a new friend, an interesting school or home activity just completed, or how your child felt on the first day of school. Encourag
e your child to come up with other ideas. Keep a journal yourself and compare notes at the end of the week. You and your child each can read aloud parts of your journals that you want to share.
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Everyone loves to get mail, especially when the card has been personally designed.
What you'll need:
Paper and pencils
What to do:
Ask your child to list the birthdays of family members, relatives, and friends. Show your child some store- bought birthday cards with funny, serious, or thought-provoking messages. Your child can then create his or her own birthday card
by using a folded piece of paper, making an attractive cover, and writing a short verse inside. Then your child can mail the cards to friends and relatives for their birthdays.
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Reading a book is more fun when you have a homemade bookmark to mark your spot.
What you'll need:
Pieces of lightweight cardboard
What to do:
Provide your child with a piece of cardboard about 6" long x 2" wide. On one side of the bookmark, have your child draw a picture of a scene from a book he or she has read. On the other side, as your child to write the name of the book, i
ts author, publisher, publication date, and a few sentences about the book. After making several of these bookmarks, you might ask the child to send them to friends and relatives as gifts accompanied by a short note.
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The telephone book contains a wealth of information and is a good tool for reading and writing.
What you'll need:
A telephone book, including the yellow pages
What to do:
Have your child look through the yellow pages of the telephone directory, select a particular service, and write a clever or funny ad for it. Have your child read this ad to you. Help your child to find your own or a friend's listing in t
he white pages of the telephone book. Explain the different entries (for example, last name and address), along with the abbreviations commonly used.
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Children love to read road maps and this activity actually helps them with geography.
What you'll need:
A road map or atlas
What to do:
When planning a vacation, let your child see the road map and help you plan where you will drive. Talk about where you will start and where you will end up. Let your child follow the route between these two points. Encourage your child
to write to the Chamber of Commerce for brochures about places you will see on your trip.
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Newspapers are a form of daily communication with the outside world, and provide lots of learning activities for children.
What you'll need:
Newspapers
What to do:
Many newspapers publish materials
especially written for children, such
as the syndicated "Mini Page," "Pennywhistle
Press," and "Dynamite Kids." In addition,
some newspapers publish weekly columns
for children, as well as tabloids and summer
supplements written by educators.
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What child doesn't enjoy watching TV? Capitalize on this form of entertainment and use TV to help rather than hinder your child's learning.
Some important ideas to consider before turning on the TV.
What you'll need:
A TV
What to do:
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