As your young child grows up, it never hurts to start early in helping them to learn letters and sounds. By the time they enter kindergarten or even pre-K, they should already know a long list of items, including counting and speaking. Although language and spelling are so natural to us now as adults, all children struggle to grasp what word means what object.
The First Steps
When your youngster is just starting out in the world, it can be difficult for them to get their point across. They will literally point at objects sometimes to showcase what they want. As they begin this process of trying to speak for what they want, and also to point at objects, it’s a great time to start telling them words. If your child is pointing at an apple, begin by saying the word very slowly and repeating it at least a few times. Your child may not say the word right then and there, so continue to say what item they want as they point to it or grab it, as this can solidify the word for them, even if they are not speaking it. As they begin to form words, make sure to put the specific emphasis on the right letters so your child can pick it up on their own as they are repeating what you are saying.
It may be a slow process, as your child may get frustrated or will not get the word right the first time. If they are not quite getting the word right, do not force the issue and simply repeat what word they say and affirm it for them. Some children can struggle with the right letters and be close. So it is important to acknowledge that they know what the item is in their head and can repeat the word they can use, and over time they will be able to pronounce the word a little easier.
Be Encouraging
Picture books are a great resource for your children to start seeing the letters as you are pronouncing them. And of course, we all know how much children enjoy picture books with animals, foods, and other objects to help them associate the word with the object even further. Remember to be patient as your child learns words and encourage them to do the heavy lifting when it comes to talking, speaking, and sounding out words. Children will learn the best when given some direction, but then are required to repeat it back to strengthen their skills.
Katie Kyzivat