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Supporting literacy skills in a child’s home language is a powerful way to help them succeed in learning a second language. When children develop strong reading and writing skills in their first language, they build a foundation that transfers to a new language. Skills like understanding how stories work, recognizing sounds, and building vocabulary carry over, making it easier for them to pick up similar skills in a second language. There are many easy ways to help your child at home by focusing on the following areas:
Phonological Awareness: The ability to recognize and play with sounds in words, including rhyming, clapping syllables, and identifying beginning sounds. This skill helps children recognize that words are made up of smaller sound parts.
Play "I Spy" with Sounds: Say, "I spy with my little eye something that starts with the sound /b/!" and have your child look for objects that start with that sound. This builds phonological awareness.
Sing Songs and Nursery Rhymes: Songs and rhymes help kids hear and play with sounds. Singing also teaches rhythm, rhyme, and language patterns in a fun way.
Play Rhyming Games: Pick a word and take turns thinking of other words that rhyme with it (e.g., "cat," "hat," "bat"). Rhyming builds phonological awareness and makes learning sounds fun.
Alphabet Knowledge: Knowing the names and shapes of letters and beginning to associate them with sounds, which is essential for decoding words.
Alphabet Hunt: Go on a scavenger hunt around the house or in the grocery store, looking for letters. Encourage your child to find the letters of their name first.
Letter Tracing with Fun Materials: Use sand, flour, or shaving cream to trace letters with fingers. This sensory activity makes learning letters more engaging.
Vocabulary : Building a strong base of words that a child understands and can use. A rich vocabulary helps with comprehension and makes reading easier when they encounter familiar words in print.
Play Word Games: Activities like Scrabble, word searches, or rhyming games make learning new words fun and interactive.
Narrative Skills: The ability to understand and tell stories or describe events. This helps children grasp story structure and builds comprehension skills.
Storytelling with Family Photos: Look through family photos and encourage your child to make up stories about what’s happening in each picture. This helps with narrative skills and vocabulary.
Print Motivation: An interest in and enjoyment of books and reading. When children are enthusiastic about books, they are more likely to engage and improve their literacy skills.
Read Aloud Daily: Read picture books together, pointing to words as you go. Ask questions about the story, like "What do you think will happen next?" to build comprehension and narrative skills.
Visit the Library: Take trips to the library to let your child pick out books that interest them. This builds print motivation and familiarity with different types of books. The local library is also an excellent place to find reading material in French.
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