As children grow, their minds grow as well.  It is important that we keep them eager to learn.  At times it can be difficult to maintain their attention, but there are a few easy ways that you can do so. As a mom and educator, I’m always looking for simple ways to help my children learn. I figured out that my children learn best while having fun. I have listed easy ways to practice literacy skills below.  

Play Games

Game night is fun for any age. Try remixing games like Jenga by adding letters or words to the blocks. Use games like Scrabble for older children. My family enjoys playing Heads Up, and the phrases on the cards give my children a chance to practice reading.  Reading can easily be incorporated into classic games like bingo or tic-tac-toe using sight words or sentences.  Create your own games and make it a competition.  

Write Letters

It’s always fun to listen to, read, and receive messages. Today’s youth really don’t have a chance to experience that in a hard copy form.  Writing letters is a great time to reach out to loved ones.  Family members and friends would love reading messages from your child in writing.  Writing letters gives children a chance to write to a real audience.  It also enables children to practice reading and composition skills. 

Sing and Tell Stories

Telling stories and singing songs are great ways to build oral language. Children can use their imagination to create their own stories or retell those they’ve heard before.  As stories and songs are said aloud, children practice vocabulary and hear new words.  Children can also interact with rhymes in songs.  In addition, children practice the skill of retell when they tell stories they’ve heard before. Children get to express creativity when they share a story they have created.

What do you do for literacy fun? Let me know in the comments!