I Forgot How To Read!!!!!!! - Part 2

Yesterday's post generated a lot of ether-chatter "Mommy, Daddy I Forgot How To Read!!!!" Many of you wanted specific tips for how to make reading a part of daily life activities and the supermarket example was mentioned more than most, so I'll give you a couple of quick tips today that you can start with right now.

Quick Start Coaching Tips;

- You'll need.... mostly patience. The rest is kid's stuff. Also remember to modify any of these steps for your child's age, reading and patience level.

Before

1. Save food labels from cans and boxes, or have your child cut out pictures of
foods and food names from magazines.

2. Put the pictures and words in a see through shoe box or file-folder.

3. Prepare your child for a trip to the supermarket.
"We're going food shopping. I need your help organizing and reminding me what
to get." Whatever works for you and your child.

4. Take a piece of construction or white paper and have your child make their own
"shopping list" by pasting the pictures or labels of the foods you'll be
buying on to the sheet of paper.

5. Explain to them what will happen and the help you need. "I need you to help
me find the snacks, vegetables etc."

6. Ask them what they're looking for, what letters are in the words, how they
think they can match them up quickly (look for the first letter, first two
letters etc.)

7. Shop.

8. When you get home ask them to make a "shopping entry" in their journals
if they keep one, or to color a picture of what they did and bought.

Here's what happens;
* They are engaged in the process and not getting as bored and antsy.
* They're focusing on the task at hand and the products you/they need to buy
and not the millions of other yummy, enticing, fun, unnecessary food you
won't be buying that day.
* They're practicing word recognition.
* They're learning planning and organizing skills.
* They're doing an "update" while you unpack the groceries.
* They feel empowered that they are able to assist and do a "job".

Follow-Up

Feel free to reward the child in whatever way you're comfortable with for a job well done.

Ask for input as to how they think it went and if they have any ideas for how to make the process work better.

You'd be amazed at the ideas they can come up with. They see the experience in a simpler, less stressful way and have great ideas from where to park the car, to how to navigate the aisles, to which product to choose to how to arrange the bags in the car.

Have fun and enjoy!
Rebecca (Kiki)
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Daily Life Consulting
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For more information on individual or group coaching, seminars, workshops or materials for your group, school or institution please call at 646.468.0608 or email at coach at dailylifeconsulting dot com.