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One of the first things your child will learn at school is how to read and write. This is a very important step in your little one’s life as it holds the key to being able to retrieve more information and accumulate more knowledge. Many parents often fret over their children’s education at one point or another and taking an active role in the development of your child is very important. The sooner you teach your child the better. This will prepare them for their first years at school and give them a head start.

Getting them used to the idea

The best thing to do with your child is to familiarize them with the idea of reading and writing. Teach them the alphabet, a word, their name or even a story. Show them how you, as an adult, incorporate reading and writing into your daily life like when you write a shopping list or read the newspaper. You are the best role model for your child and unless they see you reading, they might not be inclined to do so themselves.

Make it fun

Make reading and writing fun. Remember that your child is not at school yet, so drilling and forcing him or her to work might do more harm than good. Play educational games with your child and teach them in song. Use pictures, colours and sounds to keep them focused and eager to learn. Never force your child to learn and go at their pace.

Teaching your child to read and write before they go to school will give them awareness of phonetics and help them with their language skills. Your child will be able to express his or her feelings easily and this will give them more independence and self-control. If your child struggles at school, having taught them before hand would work in their favour so that they do not fall behind the others.

Tags: children, education, Parenting, reading, teaching, writing