learning

I've been asked: How can we support foreign language instruction in this country when so many children do poorly in English? The answer: We start too late. Literacy acquisition begins very early: long before the school years. By the time they enter kindergarten children are already on the right track or they're flailing. The biggest predictor of failure? Poverty. Economically disadvantaged children are surrounded by adults who have not had the benefit of a college education. A child who doesn't hear enriched vocabularies enters school with a deficit.

Good reading skills help children become good writers. The reverse is also true. When children learn to write well they internalize the conventions of the English language. Their understanding of English can then be applied to their reading experiences.

So how does writing begin? It begins with the alphabet. Teach your child the traditional alphabet song or just have her recite the alphabet. Always treat this as a game. Reciting the alphabet should be as fun as singing a song or reciting a favorite nursery rhyme.

If you want a break from reading the same Dr. Seuss book, we recommend sitting with your toddler in front of the computer. Mouse around some kid-friendly websites and get connected to an alternative to t.v. and books on the next rainy day.

NOGGIN.com offers interactive games that aim to stimulate, challenge and engage its visitors. You can also find music videos, and printable cartoons featuring Blue’s Clues, Dora the Explorer, and Jack's Big Music Show.