Developing Literacy Part 4: Coaching School-Aged Children

**This is a sponsored post from Charlotte Speech and Hearing**

This is our final look at developing a love of literacy in all stages of your child’s life. We’ve seen how starting early is important, as well as keeping it up in preschool. Today, we’ll discuss what to do once your child enters school and begins to read and write on his or her own.

When they enter school, you will begin noticing your child learning the sounds for letters and recognizing words. While supporting these new skills, you compliment what your child does at school. When your child continues to enjoy reading with you, putting the work into learning to read will make sense!

· Continue reading aloud. Once your child can read books alone, reading aloud is still a great way to build vocabulary, and show your child that you like to read, too! Here’s a list of suggested booksorganized by age. Here, celebrities will read their favorite books to you!

· Talk about your reading. Not every page, but every few pages, let your child in on what’s going through your mind. Comment about what this story makes you think about in your life, or what you wonder about as you read. Even if you lose your place or don’t understand the text, they’ll have to re-read when they read, too. Talk about it!

· Ask questions. Again, not every page, but every few pages ask some critical-thinking questions. Asking children to “tell me what’s happened so far” is a good place to start, but you can stretch their brains even more. Try these questions: “What do you think is going to happen next?” “What do you think she is thinking when she does that?” “Why do you think he said that?”

· Find answers together. Children have many questions and you can show them how reading is helpful to find the answers. Do an internet search or look it up in a book together!

· Remember to read everything. In addition to the books, magazines, newspaper and poetry, your children can help read recipes, or even put on plays!

Just like in their preschool years, your school-age children will need encouragement in writing skills as well. As always, enjoyable, meaningful experiences with writing will go far beyond drilling basic skills. When children love to write, there’s no stopping their learning!

· Encourage writing for all reasons. Whether it’s journaling, sending letters or emails, writing cards to friends in family, or making their own comic strips, any reason is a good reason to write! Make sure your child sees you writing for all different reasons, too!

· Join the technology age. Writing on paper is less and less common. Practice composing letters, notes, stories, etc on the computer is an important part of writing development, too.

· Ease up on spelling. Writing, or putting ideas on paper, is different than spelling. While having correct spelling is important, allow a little more freedom when your child writes at home. “Inventive” or “Phonetic” spelling is actually developmentally appropriate as very young school-age children begin learning to write. It shows that they understand that certain letters make certain sounds.

A list of activities parents can do to foster literacy for all ages

Literacy skills to expect in the first 3 years of school

Written by: Liza Stahnke, M.S. CF-SLP

To learn more about Charlotte Speech & Hearing Center, please visit our website: www.charlottespeechhearing.com