PARENT INVOLVEMENT IN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION-2

PARENT INVOLVEMENT IN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION

                              (THE MIDDLE)

 

The aptitude, from the Parent Involvements’ perspective, could be achieved by some of the following eight practices:

 
1. Parent involvement in reading for their children-by reading out loud to the child.

 Reading out loud to your child helps your child ‘hear’ the excitement in the book, or let your child read along such in the case with audio books. Always make out time to read out loud to or with your child at least fifteen minutes every day. 

Read from different writing genre: The earlier you start encouraging your child to read the better for the child. Don't just stick to one genre. For example: parents could be tempted to stick to fairy tales for girls or adventure stories for boys. 

It is important for them to be familiar with different writing genre, fiction, non-fiction and periodical, newspapers, autobiography etc. This comprehension experience can be further segmented into age related reading skill:

(a)  For babies and toddlers

* Read, sing rhymes, and talk to your newborn and infants.

* Repeat rhymes or songs every day.

* Look at the book with your baby, let the child touch and play with baby-safe versions.

* Find books with bright, bold familiar pictures.

* Read every day, particularly at bed time.

*Match word with pictures in a cognitive process.

(b) For Pre-School age group

*Help them recognise letters and words. (Phonics, as in “A” for Apple)

* Introduce sentences with two to three words.

* Run finger through sentences or words as you read.

*Discuss the stories.

*Recite passages and memorised stories and rhyme.

*Introduce a reward system.  Tell your child how proud you are of his learning.

For some children, reading aloud is a skill they have to practice over time. Make out time daily while you carry out your regular day schedule to make your child read out loud to you and other children.   

Your child can be involved in reading the recipe book to you while you cook or asking them to read to their younger ones. Remember, constant practice makes perfect. Reading with excitement and emotions will make the child do the same.

 

2. Teach your child to ask questions and open their minds to creative thinking. Good readers are curious reader.

Steps in helping your child learn to ask questions:

* Talk about why the characters do what they did.

* Think of how the book is, or isn't like your child's life, then ask personalised questions based on what was read. 

Question like ' If you were in the character's situation, what would you do differently?' Let your child also attempt asking you such questions too.

* Wonder about the 'What ifs'

Get your child to think about how he might have written the ending if he were the writer of the book.

 

 3. Ensure that your child understands the alphabets and their sounds.

Your child needs to have to unlock the sound code in other to read fluently. Knowing letter sounds; b as in ball, will helps a child’s reading in the learning process.

If by second grade (primary two) your child is still having difficulty reading and pronouncing words with two syllables like muskrat, booklet or scatter, you would need to revisit phonics. 

Make flash cards for each letter and gradually blend from single to two syllables sounds. Then combining consonant + vowel + consonant letter sounds together and gradually move to advanced words based on progress already made. However, the child may have special learning disabilities, such as dyslexia. This should be referred to a medical health provider for special attention. Teachers should pay special attention to their learning disabilities too.

Late readers 'MAY' have a learning disability if by late second grade or beginning of third grade they are still struggling with words of that grade level.



READ THE CONCLUDING PART IN MY NEXT POST