As a mom, there’s nothing more rewarding and beautiful than seeing your kids grow. Moments like seeing them take their first steps, babbling their first words, and sounding out their first words are so memorable. It’s one of the things I love and cherish most about being a mom. Helping my kids grow and learn is something so important and having the right tools is essential.
I noticed early on that my son had a passion for books and learning. I’ve learned that there’s so much more to developing strong reading skills than just helping them recognize the alphabet or learning sight words. As he grew, I wanted to find a way to continuously nurture his love for reading and learning. Over time I learned tips and tricks that helped us develop his reading and writing at home.
Here are a few tips that have not only helped with developing strong reading skills, but they have also helped us create cherished moments and a stronger bond.
1. Let your kids have a say in the tools you use
We started small when building our library of books and our collection of learning materials. I did a lot of research for age-appropriate books and materials that would support my kids learning at their current stage of development. LeapFrog was a huge resource for us. They have so many appropriate toys that we fell in love with. Not only are they great tools for learning, but they also double as toys that the kids enjoy playing with. I love that they’re affordable too.
If you want to start gathering the materials you have access to at home, I highly recommend them. You could make it fun by going to the store and letting your kids pick out one or a few things from LeapFrog’s many products.
The LeapFrog LeapStart Learning Success Bundle is an amazing starter kit to have. It’s interactive and has a sleek design that grows with your child. Trevor loves using the stylus to read along in the books. You can take it on the go with you and it even has a book based on one of Trevor’s favorite animated shows, Go! Go! Cory Carson - "Cory Carson Superhero School".
2. Create a realistic schedule and stick to it
Having a schedule is ideal for developing any type of skill, particularly reading. You want your kids to get in the habit of reading every day. The schedule doesn’t have to be anything that is too intense. It can be something as simple as reading for 20 minutes or playing a fun learning game every day. LeapFrog Mr. Pencil's Scribble, Write & Read is perfect for younger kids in preschool. It can help them recognize letters, learn how to spell their name, and how to write uppercase and lowercase letters step-by-step.
Honestly, my son is obsessed with Mr. Pencil and takes it with him on our way to school every morning. It’s great because it keeps him busy on the ride but he’s learning and developing his skills at the same time. Something as simple as that, as long as it’s consistent, can be so helpful.
3. Don’t overwhelm them
If there’s one thing I’ve learned as a mom, it’s to follow your kids' lead when it comes to learning and developing. The last thing that you want when you’re on this journey is for your child to become burnt out. You want them to truly enjoy learning. Taking any stress or expectations you have out of the situation will be beneficial. If you see that they’re getting tired of reading a book, take a break and come back to it or try again the next day.
LeapFrog LeapLand Adventures is a great way to spend a break or even finish your learning for the day. Kids can explore 150+ learning items at their own pace by playing the educational content in the Learning Center. I love giving this as a gift for birthdays since it's such a fun tool for exploring letters, numbers, shapes and colors.
4. Make learning fun
I love watching my kids grow because of their excitement when they’re learning something new. Seeing them grasp a new concept or learn a new skill is so rewarding. Having fun while learning makes the experience much more special and truly helps to foster a special bond with your child. We love playing fun games or animating the stories from the LeapFrog LeapReader Learn-to-Read 10-Book Mega Pack. Ask your child questions about the stories like what they think will happen next, or what they would do if they were a character in the book.
There are so many ways to make learning fun. If they want to be a little more independent while reading, the LeapFrog Prep for Preschool Activity Book is a great solution for this. They can use the interactive book to not only explore counting, colors, shapes, the alphabet and words, but it will also help build their confidence.
Author Bio:
Bianca Dottin is a lifestyle expert and mom on a mission to inspire other moms to create a lifestyle they love by sharing tips and tricks that make everyday life easier. When she’s not writing or creating content, you can find her exploring her city, traveling the world, and creating priceless memories with her family.