8 Ways to Achieve Pre-reading Skills

Before your child actually begins to read, they’ll develop a set of skills known as pre-reading skills. It’s fun to work on pre-reading skills with your child through simple, imaginative games and activities;

Activities to encourage pre-reading

1) Read to your child – use a combination of books that they choose and you choose.

2) Story sequencing  -use props, cut-outs during storytime to encourage your child to sequence the story in their words. Watch out for story sequencing props in the Toddle ‘Magic and Superheroes’ theme box based on the popular book ‘Room on the broom’ – just once example of story sequencing to encourage pre-reading.

3) Observe environmental prints – Look at signs, logos and symbols outdoors and encourage your child to recognise them.

4) Play with letters – Use magnetic, wooden, foam letters in everyday play including sensory bins, writing trays and scavenger hunts.

5) Rhyming boxes – make rhyming boxes with common items found around the house eg, bell, shell.

6) Play word games – use word mats/sound mats like the one in the Toddle ‘My Home’ box to play games like ‘I spy phonics’.

7) Tell picture stories – pick any random pictures in books and magazines and encourage your child to make-up their own story.

8) Make pre-reading sounds – download our 12 essential pre-reading sound printable from our website to practice regularly at home. The rhyme or situation will easily help your child identify and remember the sounds.