Make a Personalized Bookmark
This activity helps your child learn the letters of the alphabet. Many parents think that drilling their child through isolated memorization is the best way to teach the alphabet. The key however, is to make sure your child learns letters in a meaningful way.
What You'll Need:
- Construction paper
- Scissors
- Small photo of your child
- Markers
- Small piece of yarn or ribbon
- Hole punch
- Glue stick
Here's How To Do It
Help your child cut a piece of construction paper about 9 by 2 ½ inches. Punch a hole in the middle at the top. Thread a small piece of ribbon or yarn through the hole and make a knot. Glue your child's picture on the bookmark and help her to write her name on the bookmark.
After you make a bookmark with your child's name on it, use it when you read together, and have him point out words from the story that start with the same letter or sound as his name. Continue to point out letters from your child's name whenever you see them in other contexts. This helps your child associate letters and language and spelling. Once he has learned a few letters begin using magnetic letters to show names of family members or simple words like cat or dog. Keep these on the refrigerator. Continue to add more letters as your child progresses.
Jennifer Thompson is an award-winning reading specialist.
