“I bet you can’t count all the A’s on that sign,” I whispered to our 3-year-old while pointing to the towering Aquatic Center Rules sign. That kid loved both a challenge and counting. She didn’t love waiting, though, which is why I threw down the gauntlet for the last 20 minutes of her sister’s swim lesson. Typically, we spent our waiting time reading together, but I forgot our bookbag. However, I didn’t want her to miss out on practicing pre-literacy skills, so I was thankful she accepted the challenge.
After about 10 minutes, she turned and said, “Twenty-seven.” I quickly lobbed another question: “How many Z’s are there?” Before I knew it, her sister’s swim lesson had ended, and Ellery had practiced pre-reading skills in a way that felt like a game. Here are 7 other ideas for how to teach a toddler to read when you don’t have a book handy.
1. Use descriptive words when talking with her.
Yes, of course, those strawberries are a “good” snack. But they’re also juicy, ripe, red, fresh, fragrant, squishy, sticky, delicious, and bursting with sweetness. So, use those words to describe those tasty morsels to your little one. You’re building up her vocabulary.
“Kids who hear more vocabulary words are going to be better prepared to see those words in print when they enter school. They are likely to pick up skills more quickly and easily,” explains Dr. Jessica Logan when discussing her study published in the Journal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics.
2. Go on a letter sound treasure hunt together.
Make the sound of a letter like “S,” then go around the house looking for things that start with that sound. Soap. Sister. Stinky socks. After you find 10 objects, try another letter sound. For a twist, show a letter and ask your child to make the letter sound. Then go on the hunt!
Pro-Mom Tip: Use this in the grocery store to keep your child engaged and maybe, just maybe, shorten your shopping trip. After all, your child might be able to spot the Mmmmacaroni and cheese on the end-cap display so you can skip the crowded pasta aisle altogether.
3. Make everyday connections with a story you’ve read.
Reading together is a beautiful way to get your toddler reading. Did you and your little one just read a book about a train? Now, bring the book to life! Pull out the toy trains or put the kitchen table chairs in a line and announce, “All aboard!” Go ride a real train or point one out when you see it racing down the tracks alongside the road. Make up stories about the conductor and where he’s driving the train. Connect what you’re experiencing with what you read about together.
4. Go on a drive and talk about the signs you see.
You know that a red triangular sign with the letters Y-I-E-L-D written on it means to slow down and yield right-of-way. Your child doesn’t, though. At this age, he might not even realize that the symbols and shapes we call letters serve a purpose. Pointing out the road signs to him and explaining what each one means helps him make the connection. Plus, eventually, “how to teach a toddler to read” will turn into “how to teach a teen to drive.” Talking about road signs just gives you a head start.
5. Practice letter writing.
Perfect penmanship doesn’t exist for adults, so don’t expect it for your child. In fact, at this age, it’s not even about getting the letters correct. Instead, it’s about practicing the process of writing letters. Get creative with it. Instead of chunky crayons and paper, fill a cookie sheet with flour and invite your child to use his finger to draw letter shapes. Or, cover a table with a vinyl tablecloth and spray with shaving cream for your child to practice letter writing.
Pro-Mom Tip: Shaving cream also cleans! So, while practicing letter writing can be (part of) how to teach your toddler to read, it’s also a hands-on way to scrub your tablecloth!
6. Play with foam letters, magnets, or blocks.
There’s a reason so many toys for young children include the ABCs. It’s an engaging way for young children to play with letters by holding them in their hands and seeing and feeling the difference between each letter. Look for age-appropriate letter manipulatives for your child, and play with her.
7. Make cards for loved ones.
Drawing a picture and “signing” his name to a card for granddad or his favorite aunt gives your child’s fine motor skills a workout. It helps him make the connection between writing and pictures and communicating information.
What’s your favorite parenting hack for practicing pre-literacy skills that doesn’t involve books?
