Permanent Impressions Begin Today

Preschoolers remind me of wet cement. Their receptive minds are imprinted with the interests and values of their parents. As the parent of a 3 or 4 year old, you have a hand in impressing your child with a lifelong affection for books. Here are two daily strategies:

Read Everything Aloud.  Your mail, magazine articles, recipes, the bills, street signs, and greeting cards make for teaching moments.  As your child hears you read he becomes aware that print has a purpose.  Since he wants to imitate you, his favorite person, he wants to be able to read.  By your example, at 4 he will “have begun to understand that printed words have meaning. By age 5, most will begin to know that not just the story, but also the printed words themselves go from left to right.  Many will even be identifying some capital and small letters and simple words.”

Tuesday, June 8 we shake, rattle, and roll as we talk about movement in young children on my radio show, The Parent's Plate. Do you know the difference between small and gross motor skills and how to help children develop in these areas?

As I discuss what's normal in early childhood motor development I welcome your comments and questions at our toll free studio line 877-864-4869.

Along with movement, I'll chat with the authors of the brand new Wiggly Bible Rhymes & Rhythms book, Karen Whiting and Mary Rose Pearson. You gotta see their cute, practical, fun book to believe it. There are songs, fingerplays, and many activities to get your tots shaking, rattling, and rolling. It's a great resource for teachers, too.

Be sure to tune in Tuesday at 10 am (EST) or if you miss the live airing of this episode of The Parent's Plate, come back here and click on the podcast at www.toginet.com/shows/theparentsplate.

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