Math for toddlers

Math is a natural knowledge. Humans learn it, regardless of wheather you teach them or not, unlike reading and language. Reading has to be formally taught. But counting and quantity is something a baby is learning from his observations and play, all the time. Therefore, it makes even more sense to teach him this, as early as possible. Counting, colors, shapes, weight, speed can be introduced as soon as your baby starts playing with toys. The more knowledge you feed, broader his thinking horizon will be. It will empower his vocabulary and Math will come naturally to him.

You do not have to take a pen and a paper and teach, but only introduce it in your speach and play. By hearing it being repeated over and over again, before you know it your child will be using the same terms.

Point out and act out, that a particular toy is heavy. Take colorful beads and say the colors. And never forget to count everything around, that can be counted(stairs, bites of food, claps). Demonstrate speed. Make flash cards of shape cut-outs, they really work. My kids could point out complicated shapes like hexagon, trapezium etc. at 3, only thanks to this. Keep it natural and simple. Stones, beads, beans, silverware can be used as aids. Make music by counting while you bang on dishes with a spoon. There are loads of things to do. Be creative and most important is to enjoy yourself. If you both have fun with it, your baby will ask for more.

Encouraging your child to read

Give your child some control. Struggling readers often complain that reading is too hard, and they give up quickly. Guide them in selecting an easier book. Also, support your child if he/she decides to take on a longer book. You can take turns with the reading, perhaps alternating paragraphs or pages. Or you can ‘act out’ the story - your child can read the dialogue, and you can be the narrator by reading  rest of the text. At first, let the child read without comprehension. Sometimes, focusing on both can be tough. Once you are more comfortable focus on the meaning. Reading well is about comprehension too. If your child is stuck on a word, don’t just, ‘sound it out’ right away. Talk about the text and ask questions. Help your child figure out the word from the context of the rest of the passage or the pictures. Try not to interrupt on small mistakes while reading, unless it is crucial to understanding the book.

Have fun with word play. Tell jokes with puns, and play games that involve words, such as Scrabble, Boggle and hangman. Solve as well as build crossword puzzles together. Keep a record of what your child is reading. Use an incentive chart (where the child gets stickers or a special treat) to help encourage more reading, or have your child keep a reading diary or simple list. In a reading diary, children can also write down their thoughts about the books. Children can be encouraged to keep a journal of all the books they have read, the authors and and a personal rating for both.This helps them with their writing as well.

Encourage writing. Reading and writing go together. Children can practice their writing skills by making lists, keeping a journal, making a catalogue of their various hobby collections, or writing letters and emails to friends and family. Visit the library, and create one at home. If there are more books than toys in the house, a child is more likely to pick up a book when there’s nothing to do. Also, get your child a library card as soon as you can. Make a library visit part of your weekly routine.

Ideas for kids reading session

Example: Bubbles Finds a Red Ball by Sterling Press

Summary of the Story
Bubbles finds a red ball in the park. He is playing with it, when another boy comes looking for the ball. Bubbles honestly returns the ball to him. They become friends and play together.
Introducing the Story
• Read the title of the book on the cover, pointing to each word as you say it. Have your child repeat the title as you point to each word.
• Turn the page and point to the picture on the title page. Ask: What do you call these? (They are overalls.)

Reading the Story for the First Time
• Read the story, moving your finger under the words as you read.
• After reading the story, ask: What color ball do you have? Have we ever taken it to the park? Recalling the Story
• After you have finished reading, ask your child the, recall questions below. Continue to ask these questions when you reread the book, until he or she knows the answers. Reading the Story Again and Again (only with the child's permission)
• Give open-ended prompts on each page. For example, ask: What is happening in this picture? What does Bubbles do? Do less reading of the words to the story each time you read, leaving more and more of the "reading" or retelling to the child.
• Give prompts about objects or activities in the pictures. For example, ask: What is the policeman wearing? (It is a police uniform.) What toys were there on the shelf? (There is a helicopter, motorbike, a car etc.) Use your finger to point to what you are asking about. Evaluate the child's response. Expand by giving more information. Ask your child to repeat the answer. If he or she needs help in answering a question, ask that question again the next time you read the book.
• You may wish to discuss the prompts shown below. Building Literacy at Home. Support your child's learning at school.
• Read this book at least three times, following the instructions above.
• Your child can "picture read" Bubbles finds a red ball to another family member by explaining what is happening in each picture.
• With your child, make up another story about Bubbles. What might happen at a grocery store or a playground?
• Go to the park together. Help him pack a carry bag for the parks, a ball, a bottle, some snack etc. Recall parts of the story as you play at the park.
Recall Questions
Ask the following questions to check your child's understanding of the story.
1. What is the name of this book? (The book is called Bubbles finds a red ball.)
2. Where does Bubbles find the ball? (She takes him to the Park.)
3. What does Bubbles find? (He finds a ball.)
4. Why does Bubbles return the ball? (Explain the answer.)
5. What does Bubbles get in return for being honest? (A friend.)

Television Time for Kids

Television Can Effect the Learning of a Child

It is estimated that a child in the United States will have watched about 4,000 hours of television before he begins school. If he's four years old when his schooling begins, he's about 35,040 hours old. He has already spent roughly an eighth of his life watching TV! India is not very far behind. Most experts agree that, this is simply too much. But good television is important. It can spark a child's curiosity and may open up new worlds. It's an important learning tool when used properly. Monitoring what your child watches and how much time he spends at it will enable you to make appropriate use of television. It will give the child a healthy perspective about TV and help him to have a constructive relationship with it. As soon as your child begins to watch television, become active about fostering good viewing habits.

Un-monitored and excessive viewing poses various threats:
• Exposure to sex and violence
• Unhealthy influence of junk food and toy commercials
• Create confusion about good values (it can contradict what you've taught them!)
• Hinder a healthy differentiation between reality and make belief
• Passive viewing for extended periods can hinder social and intellectual development
• Makes them impatient in real life situations as they get used to high stimulation

These dangers are only a threat if you aren't involved and active. There are lots of ways to regulate your child's TV intake. Try keeping a log of how many hours of television your child watches in a day, a week and a month. Take careful note of what they watch. As a rule of thumb, keep the time to less than two hours a day.

Get Informed Learn about the current TV programs and choose the very best, the ones that best suit your child's taste and will be most meaningful for your family. Disney and Nick also have a lot to offer. Here are some programs for young children you might consider:

•  Sesame Street
•  Dragon Tales
•  Dora the Explorer
•  Be There for TV Time

TV is a great way to teach a new language. Hindi is the national language of India. We do not speak that at home, but my children learned Hindi from the television. Kids can watch Spanish channels regularly and you will be surprised at how fast they pick it up. Participate in your child's TV time. Make a plan for what you will watch together. By being present, you'll teach your child how to watch TV while being considerate to other viewers. You will also be there to answer any questions that any good show will inevitably bring up.
o Pay attention to how your child responds so you can offer guidance from time-to-time.
o Discuss the program with your child when it's over and include your whole family in the conversation.
o Be sure to keep the TV turned off until it's time to start watching, then turn it off again when your show is over.
o It's important not to let the TV babysit your child or become your child's best friend.
o Carefully monitored television viewing can add value to your child's exploration of life, but too much TV and the wrong kind, can hinder that exploration. It's a delicate balance, but it's not difficult to maintain, all it takes is awareness and attention.

Reading and 4-8 year olds

If your child is new at reading, choose stories that they can relate to. Look for familiar stories and experiences that they can identify with. E.g. Bubbles and Bruno series is excellent to start with.

Even when your children can read alone, continue to read out aloud with them. Choose books that are a bit above their reading level, but such that they can still understand and enjoy. Remember that opportunities to read are everywhere. You can encourage your child to read street signs, the back of the cereal box or the sports pages of the daily newspaper. Recipes help children learn to read for detail - leaving even a single ingredient out can lead to a disaster! Let them help out by reading the recipe while you cook.

Read with your children. Children who learn to read need to practice this new skill. If they are doing well, nightly home reading is a chance for them to show it off. If they are having trouble, reading at home with you provides a safe place to practice this with someone they trust. Have a variety of books and material available for reading. Identify their interest and buy books. Take advice from school teachers or librarians, on age specific books. Provide some books that match their reading level and a few which are above the level. Practice makes perfect. Having the child read the same books over and over again will teach them sight words and build their reading confidence. Set goals and offer rewards for achieving goals. Rewards should be: buying a favorite book, preparing a favorite recipe together, reading a longer-than-usual story for the child in bed, etc.

Encourage writing along with reading. Writing helps spelling skills and creativity. Older children can be encouraged to write book reviews for favorite books. This improves comprehension too. You can apply some ideas from my previous write-up about Reading Games and Tricks for 2-4yr olds. And always remember to have fun.

Reading Games and Tricks for Ages 2-4 yrs

2-4 yrs is ideal age to introduce reading to the kids. My previous posts have ideas about how to go about it through flashcards etc. Along with that, reading books together and playing reading games bring excitement into it.

Expose them to different kinds of books: fairy tales, poetry, short chapter books, knowledge based and informative books, which may take more than one sitting to finish.

 Toddlers can name what they see in picture books. They like rhymes and short stories, and often want to hear the same story over and over. Have patience, Mom and Dad!

 Choose some books that focus on sounds. For example, the Dr. Seuss books can lead to lots of chanting and fun with sounds—but don’t let the author do all the work. Invite the child to supply the last word of each rhyme. Point out the formation of sentences and the idea of rhyming words. Follow the model the book provides and make some silly rhymes that are special for each child.
Make up your own games with rhyming words, silly sounds, and chants, like this one:
Ba Be Bi Bo Bu-dle-oo-dle-oo!
Ba Be Bi Bo Bu-dle-oo-dle-oo!
If the words sound crazy, don’t be lazy daisy
Ba Be Bi Bo Bu-dle-oo-dle-oo!
Have fun creating new verses by substituting different consonants for the letter B. If the child’s name is Sam, use his/her letter: Sa Se Si So Su-dle-oo-dle-oo!
Or try this traditional song made famous by the children’s performer, Raffi.
Apples and Bananas
I like to eat eat eat apples and bananas.
I like to eat eat eat apples and bananas.
I like to ate ate ate aypuls and baynaynays.
I like to ate ate ate aypuls and baynaynays.
I like to ote ote ote opples and bononos. 8
I like to ote ote ote opples and bononos.…. And so on

Songs, rhyming games, language play, and nursery rhymes—these are all excellent ways to spark children’s awareness of language and sounds.
For example, sing the Teddy Bear song.
Teddy bear, Teddy bear, turn around.
Teddy bear, Teddy bear, touch the ground.

 Take advantage of everyday activities to talk about words and sounds. For example, when buying fruit at the market, you might ask the child which sound is the same in the words peach and pineapple, or in peach and tea.

 Pick books that connect to a child’s life and talk about those connections. For example, when you read Green Eggs and Ham you might ask your child, “What color eggs do you eat?” “Shall we look for purple eggs in the store?”

 After you are done reading the book, close it and talk about it with your child. Share your views about the story and the book. Enourage him/her to discuss it with other family members.  During necessary routines like baths, reading, and eating, be sure to make time to talk with children. Turn off the car radio and talk while you drive together. Watch children’s TV programs together and talk about them.

 As adults, we sometimes view conversation as a luxury—an extra in our busy lives. But for young children whose developing minds are striving to become literate, talk is essential—the more meaningful and substantive, the better. Set aside a regular “talk time” for adults and children, when having conversations about their lives is your main focus.

Reading Games and Tricks for 0-2 yrs.

Some Practical Tricks and Games for Age 0-2

Even very young babies are fascinated by books. They like to flip through the pages and look at the pictures. Buy or borrow picture books made of tough baby-proof materials for them, such as cloth or board books.

During necessary routines like baths, reading, and eating, be sure to make time to talk with your baby. Tell them what you are doing or will be doing in advance, so they know what to expect. Even when they are very young, with the daily talk, they will start understanding some words and sensing your tone. Turn off the car radio and talk while you drive together. Watch children’s TV programs together and talk about them. Instead of channel surfing, turn off the TV and use the time to talk. I used to talk to my babies a lot. It makes the mother-child bond stronger and they learn to talk sooner.

If your child is an impatient reader, choose books that have movement. Books with short chapters, “lift-the-flap” or sliders encourage children to keep reading. Pick books that connect to the child’s life and talk about those connections. For example, when you read Bruno finds a ball you might ask your child, “What color is our ball?” “Shall we look for a lost ball at the park?”

Children like repetition. Read the same books over and over again, each time pointing out to a different aspect. Children learn more in the next go.

Labeling games, are just right for little ones, for example, “Where is your nose?” Verbally label objects and events in your child’s world, for example, “Nina is on the swing.” Encourage your child to label objects and events, helping him or her with vocabulary and pronunciation. Do these types of labeling games with pictures in magazines, books, etc.

Be expressive and funny while reading the book. Enjoy yourself, the child will pick up on your enjoyment.

Put the books away in an assigned place after you are done reading. That way they will wait for the reading session and want more. Letting the books lie around will lead to the child taking them for granted.

8 Ways Parents Can Promote Reading At Home

As a parent, we are our child's first - and most important - teacher. Here are eight ways you can help your child become a better reader.

1. Read yourself. Your actions really do speak louder than your words. When your kids see you reading the newspaper or curling up with a book, they will want to follow your example.

2. Make sure your children read every day. Reading - like shooting baskets and playing the guitar - is a skill. Like other skills, it gets better with practice. Research has found that children who spend at least 30 minutes a day reading for fun - whether they read books, newspapers, or magazines - develop to be better readers at school.

3. Get the library habit. Make sure everyone in your family has a library card. Schedule regular trips to the library or get books delivered home. While you are there, check out a book yourself!

4. Read aloud to the children. Here too, research shows that this is the most important thing that parents can do to help their children become better readers. Here are some tips:
• Start reading to your children when they are young. It is never too early to begin reading to your children.
• Don't stop reading to your children as they grow older. You will both enjoy the chance to do something together.
• Set aside some time each day for reading aloud. Even 10 minutes a day can have a big impact. Bedtime is the best reading aloud time followed by breakfast and just after dinner.
• Read books you enjoy. Your kids will know if you are faking it.

5. Here is a way to use your newspaper to encourage reading: a scavenger hunt. Give your child a list of things to find in today's newspaper. Here are some ideas:
• A map of our Country.
• A picture of your child's favorite athlete.
• The temperature in the city where a family member lives.
• Three words that begin with "w".
• A movie that is playing at a nearby theater.

6. Give books as gifts. Then find a special place for your children to keep their own library.

7. Make reading a privilege. Say, "You can stay up 15 minutes later tonight to read in bed." Or you might say, "Because you helped with the dishes, I have time to read you an extra story."

8. Make writing material available. Writing strengthens reading. Create an environment that is supportive of early writing by making sure paper, crayons, pens, pencils, and markers are available. Let toddlers help you write shopping lists.

Benefits of Reading to Your Kids

Research shows that:

• By the age of five, 90 % of the child’s brain and synaptic connections of its cells - the “building blocks” of development - are already made. 
• By the time they go to school, we have lost the most valuable years to make a difference. 
• Right kind of stimulation can help rapid growth of neurological circuits.

Read Everyday 

 Reading is a wonderful experience which takes you into a world created by the author, limited only by your own imagination. Almost always, reading a book is more enjoyable than watching a movie based on the same book. This is so, because a book lets you paint the picture using your own imagination, rather than watching someone else’s interpretation of it.


Reading as a habit opens the child to an unlimited world of information and builds a strong knowledge base. You can buy or rent books on varied topics and read at your own leisure. Your child will never be at a loss of topics for conversation while with piers or teachers.

Along with information there is a lot of imagination involved. Books give the child a right-brain activity with heightened imagination and creativity.


Children develop patience by engrossing in reading, as the book unravels itself at its own pace. Watching television gives abnormal and intense stimulation to children and makes them impatient. It is very easy to give in to Television and modern day entertainment. But, I have experienced the ill effects. Among others things, a child addicted to video games or television gets easily bored in normal pace of real life situations.

As you can see, I am an ardent fan of reading and developing the reading habit. This habit does not build in a day. Over a period of time, the child will start reading for longer hours. In some cases it may be easier said that done, but this will only help him/her later. During college, higher education, or even at work, there is no shying away from reading. As parents we can give them a head start. So, start today....

Encouraging your kids to read

It is never too early or late to read to you kids and it is one of the best ways to encourage them to read. I would read a lot to my children when they were babies. This helped my kids develop a liking for reading. In today's day and age of video and computer games, I am glad they like to buy and read books. It introduces language and speech at a young age. You should share this experience with them at every stage of growing up. It is a great bonding experience for parent and child. It is also a constructive and structured activity to enjoy together. You built wonderful memories on it. The child will always remember it as a loving gesture from the parent. Eventually the book becomes an unconditional friend.

And these are only the fringe benefits. Reading to and with your kids, is a way to teach them reading. Once they are able to read short sentences, you can read age appropriate books to them. My favorites are Dr. Seuss books for the wonderfully funny, rhyming and easy to read text. They introduce the child to the world of poetry and writing, without bounds. There are repetitive words, which help the child in memorizing words and reading the rest of the book faster, which builds confidence. Choose your favorite kind, and read.

Read one book at bedtime everyday and your kids will love this bedtime routine. Take a library membership and visit the library together every week. You pick one book for them and let them pick one. Reward them for good behavior, with books. Last but not the least, read a book yourself. Be a role model. Don't tell them what to do, do it yourself.

Introducing Sight Words

We all know that English is not a phonetic language. Not every word can be read or written phonetically. Therefore, no reading knowledge is complete without learning the non-phonetic words. Once the child has got the hang of alphabets(phonetically) and started reading the 3 letter words, we can start working with sight words. The way to do this is, to teach a the child to recognize them through sight. We will start with only the essential words. Don't worry, children are very quick at it. We know that most young kids recognize the "M" from the MacDonald's sign. This is reading through sight. We will use this strength to teach them sight words.

Some, early sight words are: this, that, he, she, it, a, and, go, here, I, be, am, do etc. There are many more that you can find online. Make one flash cards for each sight word(write the whole word on one card). Other steps are much like you followed for letters from my previous posts.

Once you have your flash cards ready, start by introducing only a few at a time. E.g. "This", "is" and "a". Once the child has understood these, you can start building sentences: "This is a b-a-t", "This is a d-o-g", "This is a p-e-n" etc. Repeating the sight words will make the memorizing easier. The next day, you can continue by introducing one more; like "That". The continue by making sentences like, "That is a b-a-t", "That is a p-i-n" etc. Keep going...Soon, your child will reading sentences.