Experimental Reading

In this phase children use memory of familiar texts to match some spoken words and written words. They realize that print contains a constant message and begin pointing to words. They may comment on pictures, but seldom question written text. They are able to recognize some personally significant words in context and some basic sight words.

Parent Tips:

• Read to your child whenever you can.
• Now and again ask a few "why" questions about the story as your read.
• Help your child to tell stories from pictures in the book.
• Talk about the characters, plots and settings of stories.
• Discuss information gleaned from factual books.
• Visit the local library and get your child a library card.
• Talk about reading the newspaper, magazines, and books.
• Encourage your child to try and write his/her own name in books he/she owns.
• Read books of children's poetry with your child.
• Borrow "book and tape" sets from the library.
• Compare events and people in books with your own lives.
• Talk about the pictures when reading to your child.
• Tell stories and sing songs in the car, at bath time, and at bed time.
• Take books with you when visiting others.
• Draw attention to print on packages, jars, boxes etc.
• Let your child "read" to you, or the dog/stuffed animal.
• Encourage him/her to join in when reading familiar stories.
• Talk about everyday print.
• Discuss advertisements and talk about the effect they have on you.
• Point out interesting or long words in books.
• Accept your child's efforts without criticism.
• Always encourage and praise his or her efforts.
• Print your child's name while the child watches when labeling lunch box etc.
• Read birthday cards with your child, pointing to the words.
• Write shopping list in front of your child and talk about what you are doing.
• Set up a home message board and write a message everyday, e.g. "Today we are going to the movies".
• Leave plenty of scrap paper, pencils, and crayons on the child's table or desk.
• Give him/her old diaries or inexpensive notebooks.
• Encourage your child to write messages for different family members.
• Encourage your child to find words that begin with the same letter as his/her name.
• Recognize letters on car license plates.
• Watch and talk about television with your child.
• Encourage your child to look at the title and cover of a book and guess what it may be about.
• Encourage your child to tell the story from the pictures in the book.