Writing Leads to Reading

By: National PTA (2004)

Children often can read and write in their own ways before entering school. Writing activities can be a good way to begin reading because children often scribble and write before they read. Many can explain their scribbles as if it were writing.

Scribbling

Encourage scribbling. Ask your child to read it aloud, or have your child tell you a story and draw pictures to go with it. You can write the words under the pictures. Children who "write" their own stories want to learn to read so they can tell what they've written. This is good for their self-esteem.

Skywriting

"Write" a letter in the air with your hand or a stick. Ask your child to name it and "write" it after you.

Backtracing

Let your child trace a letter on your back. Guess what it is. Then trace one for your child to feel and name. Young children can learn that reading and writing are useful as well as fun. Let your child see you read and write.

Other writing activities

• Write down a recipe.
• Flip through magazines.
• Put dates on the family calendar.
• Look up phone numbers in the phone book.
• Write down a message.
• Make shopping lists.
• Read street signs out loud.
• Have your children sign their names on greeting cards.
• Look through the TV listings.
• Read menus.