Reading from a Young Age Matters

A picture is the first content of a book that a child can „read“. Thanks to pictures, a child can understand a story without knowing how to read, interpreting the main figures/animals, the environment, and the situations from the visuals. From illustrated facial expressions and body language the child can also tell emotions.

Enjoying a good book raises a love and passion that is necessary for prereading skills.

Letters all around your home

Babies a few months old can differentiate shapes. For them letters are simply another shape like a triangle, tree or a sun. Try to include them in your home as much as possible. How?

Decorate your home with 2 letters, after some time change one for another one.
Arrange letters using carrot or cucumber peels while preparing vegetables with your child.
Draw letters in sand.

Rhyme as much as possible

A large knowledge of nursery rhymes helps children realize that words are made up of separate sounds.

Read illustrated books with your child from an early age – describe pictures, shapes, colours, and emotions.
Find, describe and match objects that rhyme such as spoon - moon, cat - hat, dog - frog.
Enjoy nursery rhyme books such as "Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?", "The Going to Bed Book", "The Snail and the Whale", ...

Use baby sign language

Support your child in being an active reader or a communication partner by teaching them baby signs. Baby signs are simple gestures substituted for words. Mastering baby signs helps the child to build self-esteem and increases the joy of being able to express themselves.

Around 1 year, your child will be able to „tell“ you that he/she sees a cat, sun, wants to drink milk or feels pain. ”Baby signers show early signs of loving books and they are able to master prereading skills at early age.“

So, let your child jump onto your lap and read together! Such moments significantly help to develop:

Attention: giving children face to face interaction and being playful helps children pay attention better and longer.
Bonding: learning and memory are enhanced in a secure and loving environment which positively influences the primal parts of a child’s brain.
Communication: loving communication with your child increases their ability to speak and read soon

Lenka Míkovcová – IMSP Primary Teacher Assistant

Want to learn more? Read our next article:

ABSORBENT MIND – A KEY PRINCIPLE IN MONTESSORI

References:

Bright from the start, Jill Stamm, PhD, Paula Spencer, Gotham Books, 2007
Baby Minds – Linda Acredolo, Susan Goodwyn / Bantam Books, 2000

Gallery
Comments

Další články

Czech and Slovak Leaders Interview with Kateřina Bečková

“I wanted to secure the best possible education for my children”

Supporting Independence in the Toddler Child

In Montessori education, we often speak about independence. Helping raise children into confident adults is a priority for all of us – but why is independence so important and how do we nurture it in even our youngest learners?

Future of Education

Radka Dohnalova, a parent of three IMSP children, has been researching the future of education in this world. She has summarized her findings in the article below, which was also recently published. Radka wanted to share the results with the IMSP community when her research revealed how Montessori education aligns with where the future of education is heading.

A few minutes with Abdul from Kenya

We "made a trip" to Africa to ask our adopted schoolmate Abdul how he is doing.

IMSP Podcast: Meet Alumnus Caleb Miller

Introducing our first guest on the IMSP podcast series: Caleb Miller. After graduating from IMSP, he moved back to the United States, finishing his university degree. Caleb and our host, Mariana, chat about independence in childhood, the benefits of multi-age classrooms, and what advice he has for current IMSP Elementary students. While reflecting on his time at IMSP, Caleb looks towards the future as he pursues a career with a global focus. “That's one thing that Montessori, our school, planted in me,” Caleb tells us, “the desire to engage with the world”.