Here is a list of things parents can do to help their children learn:
- Read to your child
- Listen to your child read
- Play games with your child
- Help your child get a library card from the public library.
- Take your child to the library as often as possible.
- Help your child choose interesting books.
- Find out about activities for children that take place in your library.
- Talk to your child about subjects that are interesting to him or her.
- Listen to your child.
- Set aside a special "reading time". Let your child know that you look forward to and enjoy your time together.
- Give your child his or her own place to keep books.
- Write notes to your child.
- Help your child write letters and notes.
- Encourage your child to keep a scrapbook about a subject that interests him or her: stamps, dogs, birds, trucks, etc.
- Limit your child's television, video, and computer time - select certain shows to watch. Turn the television on for the set show and turn it off immediately after the show is over.
- Read and discuss your child's homework.
- Provide materials such as crayons, art paper and paints for creative projects.
- Give your child a calendar so he or she can write down special events and mark off each day.
- Help your child make a telephone directory with the names and phone numbers of his or her friends.
- Ask your child to add a sentence or two to letters you write to far-away relatives. (Young children can dictate a sentence for you to write.)
- Give your child specific responsibilities to perform on a regular basis at home.
- Subscribe to a children's magazine (in the child's name).
- Bring books for your child to read in the car while he or she waits for you to run errands.
- Look up words in the dictionary with your child.
- Encourage your child to show his or her schoolwork to your relatives.
- When traveling, read road signs with your child. Discuss what they mean.
- Show your child how to use a yardstick, ruler, tape measure for measuring objects around the house.
- Provide counting experiences for your child.
- Show your child how to count change.
- Give your child a special place (box, dish pan, etc.) to keep items he or she must take to school each morning. (This ends last minute searching for library books, papers, etc., all of which can cause your child to be late for school.)
- Show your child how to tell time.
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