Stages of Reading: Pre-reading Skills

This is when, usually from birth to three years of age, you spend time with your children. You take time out to read to them, showing them picture books, reading them simple and short tales, cuddling together, talking about what you read and see, answering questions. It's a stage of togetherness and any parent should make the most of it. During this time you can establish good habits and routines, such as story time before bed, which can help in later years when the habit of independent reading is establishing. Your child will also begin to associate books with comfort and contact with you. It will become something they look forward to. If you start with books before they are able to read one word, one of the first few words they utter will quite possibly be book.

This is also a time to get down on the floor with them and play act, build blocks, fit shapes together, tickle and giggle, draw and paint, play with balls and many other activities that delight and excite children. While not immediately related to reading or books, these activities are vital in teaching them skills for life, not just in preparation for reading. The coordination needed from kicking a ball, or placing a block will go a long way towards helping them manipulate pages of a thick card book. They gain understanding from these activities which make sense when they begin to decipher and work out pictures and stories.

Some of the best books to start with for children in this stage are wordless picture books. This give the parent and child an opportunity to discover what is happening in the story together. Even a chance to make new stories up on each reading. When a child is very small the sound of your voice is enough, but soon they'll begin to see the pictures and curiosity will bloom. Take advantage of their questions and no matter how many times they point out the teddy or the dog, appear interested. They are establishing a naming and identifying skill needed in early reading.