The Gift of Early Literacy

Talking, reading, and singing to my children - in utero, and after they arrived - were wonderful parts of our bonding experience, but they were also parts of another goal:

Developing Early Literacy.

I knew that teaching my children to read early would provide a great foundation for lifelong learning. Studies show that children who read early have stronger brain structures which support critical thinking, boost visual imagery, and improve cognitive processing skills overall. In addition to accelerated brain development, studies also show huge vocabulary growth and psychological well-being and reduced stress. 

Most important to me was that my children would be able to read and study God's word, the Bible, for themselves. 

Of course, off I went to discover the best reading program - and there were many, and several quite expensive at that. Believing that if you can break down a word phonetically, you can read anything, my research quickly narrowed in on phonics-based instructional programs.

The program I found to be superior and used for all three of my children - and have recommended to so many - is Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons. I love that it emphasizes reading comprehension and also incorporates handwriting instruction. Another excellent component of the program, besides that it's in a workbook format, is that there's an entire section guiding the parent on the best practices for reading instruction. I also loved that my children were reading way before the program ended. During our regular visits to the library (one of our happy places), I found it helpful to select books with words that directly nurtured each reading level as they progressed through the program.

Teaching my children to read between the ages of three and four opened a beautiful world of literacy to them, laying the foundation for advantages that have followed them into adulthood. It also greatly influenced my decision to homeschool them. I did not want them to lose momentum in their learning journeys when it came time to consider formal schooling options. Homeschooling, with optimal curriculum options, was a way to continue to extend their learning at their pace, and with the most nurturing, patient and invested teacher: me.

If you or someone you know is searching for the perfect program to teach a child to read, look no further than Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons. The gift of early literacy is one of the best gifts we can give our children, and this resource helps you do just that!