Reading readiness is just that. Readiness for reading. A child that comes into reading without any preparation may be getting himself into trouble.

Granted there are kindergarten children that have not had any readiness and they read fine, which is great. However not every child is born with the same set of skills and talents and the more we prepare our children for the lifelong pleasure that reading gives us, the better readers they will be.

Writing by the way is also something that reading readiness prepares children for. Some children may have a very easy time with reading while struggling with writing.

There are certain basic skills that are needed for children to navigate beginning reading and writing and I will talk about some of them and what you can do to work on those skills.

You can get more of an idea of exactly what reading readiness as defined by wikipedia.

There is the actual reading and language that kids need to be exposed to and then there are the other thins which is what I will be giving you some tips for.

Motor Control and Coordination:

Vital for writing as children without good motor coordination can’t write well or sometimes have such a difficult time with it and end up needing occupational therapy.

Some good activities would be:

Rhythm activities:

Marching, skipping, skating,running and do alot of these activities to different beats. You can also do these activities to the beats of the children’s names.

Follow the leader: Have them follow the leader tiptoeing, galloping etc.

Lifting objects: Let the children determine which is heavier and lighter.

Blindfold child: Put objects in bag and blindfolded child will have to feel object and guess what it is.

Feed the elephant: Have child balance peanut on end of a ruler and walk across the room without dropping it to the person at the other end who can be the elephant. They can eat the peanuts when done. (Or even make peanut butter with the peanuts)

Art activities

• Sewing is extremely valuable for fine motor coordination,
• Working with clay ,
• Cutting
• Folding
• Painting
• Working with puzzles
• Pouring sand and water,
• Peg boards
• Bead stringing
• Hammering and sawing

All of the above are excellent in developing fine motor coordination.

Auditory Discrimination:

Use of Music:

• Using drums let children beat out their names
• Compare loud and soft beats
• Clap to rhythms of songs

Hearing first sounds in words

• Show Pictures of items like cup and chidren can find other pictuers begining with same initial sounds like car and coat
• Teacher says word and children add to list words with same beginning sound
• Compare names of classmates for first sound

Following directions:

• Simple Simon
• Going on a bear hunt as children follow you through mountains and caves, you give directions and they follow exactly what you tell them
• Tray painting- excellent direction following activity

I will continue with more activities in the next post