Preschool Literacy Activities in Tarzana, CA & Surrounding Areas

Early Childhood Education is Crucial. Let Us Help.

For over 50 years, Woodcrest School has provided children with a strong foundation for future academic success. Successful learning starts early, and our program promotes high-quality preschool literacy activities. Tarzana, CA parents can use our tips to prepare their children for the years ahead. Everything you do as a parent impacts your child – including the language and activities you use around them. The more words your child hears, the more developed their language skills will become. While our preschool does the heavy lifting, there is no shortage of fun things you can do at home that will improve your child’s literacy and allow more opportunities to bond.

Encourage Your Child to Notice Small Details of a Book’s Cover

One of the great things about children’s books is their vivid and colorful covers. Your child will naturally enjoy looking at the book’s cover as you begin reading. This time, spend more time on it than you might typically. Instead of moving straight to the story, ask your child to follow along – and repeat back to you – the name of the author, illustrator, and book title. Over time, your child should be able to memorize these names. That’s a good indicator of their literacy progress. You can also ask your child to guess what a book might be about or where it takes place based on the visuals, allowing them to work on verbal skills. Early childhood education should be rewarding, creative, and above all else, fun. Our curriculum doubles down on practices like this to help your child succeed.

Allow Your Child to Retell their Favorite Stories in Their Words

Children have an active imagination, so you should do everything you can to take advantage. If your child loves a particular book, you can find ways to make it feel new to them and enhance their literacy skills. For example, you can reimagine their favorite book as a play or puppet show. You don’t need world-class production values – just creativity and love. Keeping everything simple enables your kid to create props and retell the story in their own words. One way to do so could include creating stage directions, such as descriptions of settings and a “the end” sign.

Harness a Good Laugh to Strengthen Language Skills

Kids love to tell – and hear – jokes. One of the great things about a joke is the potential for wordplay and clever usages of language. Telling jokes that utilize wordplay is a fun way to increase your child’s capacity for understanding words. Kids are also an easily-entertained crowd and will laugh at the corniest jokes. For instance, “a book fell on my head, and I only have myshelf to blame” will make any kid laugh. Do google research for pun-y jokes for kids and start your comedy career.

Learn to Decode Instructions for Better Literacy Performance

Early childhood education tactics can start at home in the simplest ways. For instance, as your child grows older, they will need to be able to consume, understand, and follow directions. Their academic performance will depend on that skill set. Even if your child cannot read, you can begin laying the groundwork. For instance, you can read directions for assembling a toy and see if they can help by pointing to it. Older children who can read will benefit from going through instructions step by step. With your prompting, you can teach them to comprehend what they are reading – or what you are reading to them.

Engage Your Child’s Creativity by Making a “Me” Book

Combining literacy for preschool students with creativity is one of the best ways to strengthen your child’s language skills and increase their love of learning. One activity you can try is making a book. Work with your preschooler to create a book all about them. It can include their name and interests, family members, friends, favorite animals and colors, and anything else that interests your child. They can color the book, and you can ask them what they want to write, then write it yourself. Seeing the letters will help them build literacy at a young age. If letter writing is part of their current education plan, you can help them with the captions.

Create Fun Games to Teach Them the Basics of Syllables

Understanding syllables is a challenging part of preschool literacy. But it doesn’t have to be boring. As a parent, you can help your child learn the basics by creating fun games. The principle is the same whether you use name\s, animals, or characters from their favorite shows. Show your child how to clap out the syllables in their name. Once they have the idea down, you can start with other names and words. If the word has two syllables, have them clap twice. You can also write the names on graph paper so they can begin to have a visual representation of the game.

Take Advantage of the World Around You

Lifelong learning is easy when you realize there are opportunities surrounding us at all times. Your children can be the biggest benefit. For instance, you can encourage your child to search for letters they know everywhere – from milk cartons to highway signs. Turn it into a game! If you’re on a long trip or the ride home from preschool, you can ask them to find the letter “A.” They will have fun finding and pointing them out to you, and the search will improve their literacy at the same time.

Install a Lifelong Desire for Literacy in Your Child

Countless studies have proven a link between a lifetime love of reading and better literacy. Instilling a love of books is the best thing you can do for your kiddo. Always give books for their birthdays and holidays to strengthen their understanding of how special stories can be. You can even encourage your child to loan their favorite books to their friends. Chances are, they will talk about it among themselves. All these actions will create a curiosity that will enable your child to grow through the years and succeed academically.

Contact Us for Peerless Early Childhood Education

Woodcrest Preschool has established a trustworthy reputation for excellence over the years. Our approach to preschool language and literacy activities will complement what you do at home, ensuring your child will develop to their fullest potential. We proudly serve a wide range of cities in the region, including Encino, Calabasas, Woodland Hills, Canoga Park, West Hills, Reseda, Sherman Oaks, and Agoura, CA. Contact us today to get started.