Hello! I'm wondering if anyone can recommend good phonics resources (especially games) for a young child. My 2.5 year old recently learned his letters and numbers, and seems to really want to learn to read. He's always spelling out letters he sees on bottles, books, etc., and he 'pretends' to read his books. I know he's young, and I don't want to push him, but on the other hand, I do want to take advantage of his curiosity. So, if anyone knows of any fun phonics resources geared to young kids, please let me know!
Thanks! I'll look into the resources you mentioned!
Hello C.,
I used the leapfrog videos. they're awesome.
you can start with the letter factory and add the other ones later (word factory, etc.) even I enjoyed watching it! good luck! ~C.~
As a kindergarten teacher, reading teacher, mom and grandparent, the best resource I have found for parents to prepare young children for reading and teach phonics is a book with games and activities by Barbara Curtis. You can find the book "Mommy, Teach Me to Read" at Amazon or Barbara's website along with other excellent books for teaching and raising preschoolers.
http://barbaracurtis.com/books/
The Leapfrog videos and Starfall website are also good for supplementing children who learn that way. Just make it fun and don't push
What helped my kids was the leap frog videos. My oldest watched them over and over everyday. Between watching those and being read to he for the most part taught himself to read before Kindergarten. So you might check those out.
Good luck and God bless!
"Bob" books and Leap Frog dvds and toys like "Word Factory" are great. Also tv shows like "Super Why" and "Word World". Thats great that he is curious and you are taking the time to teach him!
He needs to learn the sounds the letters make. I used a phonics CD in the car. After he mastered sounds we worked on sounding out words in the bath tub using those foam bath letters...just basic words like cat, hat, rat...Once he could sound out basic words out we started him on a phonics reading kit "Learn to Read" K-1st grade. He sees words all around, on signs, on cards and he asks what it is and tries to sound it out. I occasionally bring out the software on my own but I prefer that he asks me to read, so I know I am not pushing him to do something he doesn't want to do.
We taught our son to read early because he is so interested. Studies have shown that teaching your child to read early does not improve them academically later in life...everyone eventually learns to read. Studies show that although kids that learn basic skills like reading early are advanced at first, but then everyone evens out academically by 4th grade. I am concerned that by teaching him early he will be board in class early in life and possibly become disinterested in school or the "class clown" (learning to get attention). I'm not saying this will happen, it is just a concern of mine (many elementary clowns I went to school w/ were smart kids board in class)...something I keep in the back of my mind so when he starts formal school, I can keep a look out for.
f you are up for helping him on the computer...starfall.com is awesome!
www.starfall.com My son started playing with this site just before he turned 3 and within a month and a half, he knew all his letters and how they sound. He's now 4 and knows a few sight words but is always sounding things out...f-fffff, a-aaaaa, l-llll, l-llll. Then I go f-a-l-l to help him put them together. The site has alot of games and songs and helps with the reading rules; 2 vowels- the 1st one does the talking and the last one does the walking, etc. My older dd gets mad at me when I tell someone with a toddler about starfall but this will help everyone!! Good luck!
Remember when you taught him the cow says moo? Now the game is "What does L say?" What words start with the "l" sound? kids learn in every day activities. What letter is this what sound does it make? nothing fancy just a little one on one time with mom. good luck.
A.
