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Reading with ToddlersMy two-and-a-half year old has about ...
My two-and-a-half year old has about seven words she recognizes by sight, including "no". Is it alright to try and build on these, for example by introducing "g - o", "go" or asking what "cat" and "hat" have in common? Or is this pushing things? Thank you for your help!
submitted by Anonymous, Mother, Germany
(September 4, 2008 - 5:01 pm)
(September 4, 2008 - 5:01 pm)
What matters most, of course, is not just that children learn to read, but that they remain delighted with reading. It’s clear that you are sensitive to the risk that pushing too hard could undermine your daughter’s pleasure in reading--and her view of herself as a competent reader.
You don’t say how your daughter has come to recognize words by sight. Did she do so by exploring books with you and by asking about various printed words she sees throughout the day? If so, and if she continues to press you with eager questions about words, by all means respond to her enthusiasm.
However, I would agree that you are wise to be cautious as you proceed, especially if you are doing somewhat more direct teaching. Reading involves translating graphemes (alphabet letters) into phonemes (the smallest units of sound in language) and blending them in the correct sequence, all the while focusing on meaning. That’s a very different matter than recognizing words by sight.
If you ask your child what “cat” and “hat” have in common or decide to build on words she already knows, be guided by the signals she sends and respond to them. Watch her expression. Is she tense or relaxed? Do her eyes reflect disappointment in herself when she doesn’t know the answer--or delight in a challenge? Her cues will tell you everything you need to know about whether you are pushing or responding.
(September 19, 2008 - 8:26 am)