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A love of reading is one of the greatest gifts you can give your child. By teaching them to read at an early age, you’ll facilitate their success in preschool, kindergarten, and beyond. Pumpkin Preschool has been one of Fairfield, CT’s best day care centers for over 25 years. Here, the staff at this early learning center explains four things you can do to help your child learn to read. 

A Day Care Center Lists 4 Ways to Help Kids Learn to Read 

1. Read to Them 

Reading to your child is crucial. Introduce them to kid-friendly books and print in a way that piques their interest and excites them. This will teach them books and written words are meaningful and fun. Babies as young as six months old enjoy looking at simple books with pictures and labels. Between the ages of one and two, they’ll be most interested in rhyming and repetition books. Between two and three years, they’ll begin to enjoy books with simple story lines. While reading, show them the pictures and point out things that seem to catch their eye. 

2. Ask Questions 

day care center Fairfield CTTalking to your child about the book keeps them engaged and encourages them to think more about the words and stories. This is essential for building reading comprehension skills. Reading is more than sounding out words; it’s also about understanding and retaining information. Ask your baby simple questions like, “Do you see the dog?” while pointing out the picture of the dog. When they’re older, ask them to point out things themselves. 

3. Incorporate Crafts, Songs, & Play 

Use word-related arts and crafts, songs, and rhyme games to complement story time. Nursery rhymes and coloring books with stories work especially well. For example, you could sing “I’m a Little Teapot” or “Old MacDonald” with your child while reading the words on the page or while reading along with a music video. There are countless educational resources available to help facilitate early childhood learning. 

4. Encourage Them to Sound Words Out 

Sounding words out, also known as decoding, isn’t the most important step in teaching your child to read, but it is helpful. Once your child understands the sound each letter makes, they’ll be ready to begin putting words together. Encourage them to sound out short words they see in books, as well as those on street signs, labels, and other everyday items. As they decode words more frequently, they’ll become proficient at identifying words automatically. 
 
If you’re looking for a top-tier day care center in Fairfield County, look no further than Pumpkin Preschool. A licensed and insured child care provider, they offer a range of affordable, quality programs for children ages six weeks to eight years, including before- and after-school care, early childhood education, and summer camps. Call (203) 255-7505 or visit their website to schedule a tour. 

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