Five for Friday - Creating A Language Rich Environment For Your Child

September 7th is International Literacy Day - yesterday, September 6th, was National Read A Book Day.
Reading a book is a great idea for Every day. But by creating a "literacy rich" environment in your home, you will be helping your child to absorb a love and appreciation of language even when you aren't "reading". How can you create this environment for your child?

1. Be A Role Model Make reading and writing a natural part of your daily routine. When your child observes you reading - the newspaper, a magazine, a book -
or writing - shopping lists, letters, a journal, work from your office - she learns that these things are important to you.

2. Have Conversations With Your Child and with your family as a group. Give everyone the opportunity to express their thoughts and feelings using words. Be sure that each person knows that their words and their meaning have been listened to and understood.

3. Keep A Variety Of Reading And Writing Materials Available - picture books, chapter books, atlases, dictionaries, magazines and newspapers. Make sure every family member has a library card (and uses it!). Have plenty of paper, pencils, pens , markers and crayons where children can reach them.

4. Play Games With Your Children that help develop language skills - Lotto, Candyland, Old Maid, Scrabble and Trivial Pursuit are all good examples.

5. Set Aside Plenty Of Time For Reading Together by balancing time spent on other activities. Limit the time spent watching television or playing computer games (no matter how "educational" they appear to be). Show your child the exciting world waiting to be discovered in the pages of a book!