Magical Activity to Create a Lifelong Reader: Writing

One of the first questions that may have popped in your head in regards to this post is "how can I promote writing with a very young child who doesn't even hold a crayon yet?"  Well let me tell you that you can indeed do it!  Look no further than ABC and shape books!  Yes, shape books.  Reading and writing go together.  Scribbling is an early form of writing and helps children make the connection that words stand for spoken language.  Tracing is another activity.  Many board books designed for young children have touch and feel or tracing elements to promote scribbling which eventually leads to making shapes which leads to writing letters.  You can even trace the air!  Concept books such as ABC and shape books are found in just about every library.  If not, I would seriously question that library's director.  They are crucial at not only teaching the concepts themselves, but also the development into writing.  ABC books show the letters themselves.  Bonus points if they also include lowercase letters.  And shape books?  Think about it.  Picture or draw a circle.  Can you think of letters that include curved lines?  Now picture or draw a triangle.  Now look at letters, A, M, N, V, W.  Look familiar?  Picture or draw a square or rectangle and you will think of letters with straight lines like L, T, and Z.  Shapes rock!  You can even put them together to form pictures like Lois Ehlert does in her books Color Zoo and Color Farm.

There are great books out there that show ABCs and shapes that can be found all around us.  Read them, and then go on your own letter or shape hunt.  Museum ABC and Shapes, Shapes, Shapes by Tana Hoban use actual photographs in their illustrations.  Tana Hoban is Queen of Concept Books (proclaimed by yours truly.)  Colors, shapes, opposites, road signs, etc.  She's got you covered!

Here are some (believe me, there's more!) of my favorite ABC books!

And some (see above disclaimer) of my favorite shape books!

During playtime, encourage your child to color or scribble.  This is prime learning time when it comes to developing writing skills, the fourth magical activity to promote early literacy!