Ways to Build Pre-Reading Skills

Kids who are beginning to develop the skills they'll need to read and write need lots of encouragement and exposure to learning experiences. These online activities and tips will help your child build pre-reading print knowledge, and beginning writing.

Language Awareness
You can help your child make the connection between letters and sounds through imaginative play, rhyming, word games, and most of all, conversation!

Activities
R and R: Repetition and Rhyme
Guess the Rhyme
Sound Clapping
I'm Thinking of a Sound
Tot Talk

Articles
Rhyme Time
Poetry in Motion
Typical Language Accomplishments for Children
Chatting with Children
Talking About Me: Listening and Talking
Using Language to Learn: Listening and Talking

What Works
Skill-Building Activities: Enhancing Auditory Processing

Print Knowledge
Show your child how the printed word works. Give her lots of chances to explore books on her own and read together every day.

Activities
A Picture's Worth a Thousand Words
Make a Book
Easy as Pie
Family Reading Time
As Simple as A-B-C
Family Stories
Make Your Own Picture Dictionary

My Favorite Words Book
Story Talk
The Very Hungry Caterpillar Lesson Plan
Word Match Cards

Articles
A Home for My Books
How Does a Book Work?
Helping Children Learn About Reading

What Works
Tips/Activities to Get Your Preschooler to Read
Books for Kids: Preschool and Younger

Beginning Writing
Scribbling is your child's first effort to use print in a meaningful way. He can express himself and build fine motor skills by working on art projects and playing with blocks, though there are ways to help improve his ability to eventually write.

Activities
World of Words
Fun with Names
Sandpaper Letters
My Book
Homemade Sidewalk Chalk
P.S. I Love You
Articles
Seven Ways to Help with Handwriting
Using Language to Learn: Writing
Building Muscles for Writing
Write On!

Printables
I Can Print My Name
Writing Name Certificate
All About My Day
Snowman Cut and Color
Wild Animals
Picture Frame
Create a Mask
Lunchbox Love Notes
Sauropod
Stegosaur

More on: Early Reading Basics