The entire process of teaching a child to read can be reduced to several stages that must be performed sequentially. It is the consistency and regularity of classes that is the key to success.
There are many teaching methods, we will not consider each of them, but will present our own. All training consists of three stages:
- Stage 1 - learn letters, read sounds
- Stage 2 - learn syllables, read words
- Stage 3 read books broken down by syllables
Learning letters and sounds
First, do not burden your child with unnecessary knowledge. All he needs to know is that we hear and pronounce sounds, and see and write letters.
The sounds are vowels and consonants.
We can pronounce vowels by simply opening our mouth without a tongue - demonstrate. Vowel sounds can be sung - demonstrate.
When pronouncing consonant sounds, the entire mouth works. Show how the tongue works: L, R, N, K, T. And how the lips fold: P, M, Ш, Ш, how the teeth work: V, F. Disassemble each letter.
Explain that each sound is represented by a letter and that it can be written - demonstrate.
At this stage, the child must determine what sound any word begins with.
Now that we've sorted out the pronunciation of sounds, let's move on to letters. How they are written.
First, let's look at all the vowels. It is advisable to highlight vowel letters in red and any consonants. At this stage, the child does not need to recognize hard and soft, write in green or blue, it is best to write those who agree in neutral black or brown.
It is very convenient to use cubes for memorizing letters. Moreover, they can be in two versions - wooden cubes, on which only letters are drawn, vowels in red, consonants in green and blue, and plastic cubes with pictures glued on.
I strongly recommend that you carefully select cubes with pictures. Sometimes the pictures depict not one object, but several (a needle and thread), or one, but with many details: the letter I has an anchor and a ship in the background. Or, for example, often on the cubes there is the letter Ш and a pike, while a child of this age has associations only with fish. It’s more correct to draw a brush - it’s clearer.
Some mothers are upset that the child cannot learn letters, and do not realize that the baby is a mess in his head. Here's why. Let's take the word WATERMELON - the simplest one, which starts with the letter A. Now pronounce it with emphasis - you will clearly hear the emphasis on the syllable BU. They are the ones that are “imprinted” on the child’s head.
Therefore, when teaching your child letters, choose those words where the sound or vowel letter being studied is stressed! This is very important, but for some reason no attention is paid to it in any methodology. Think like a child, not a parent - a teacher.
- we learn the letter A - instead of Watermelon there should be a Stork
- learning the letter M, instead of Typewriter - Mike
- learn K - Horse, not Cow
- teach N - Nose, not Rhinoceros
- we teach O - Autumn, Cloud, but not Window or Wasp
It is difficult for a child at this age to understand that we pronounce “Akno” and “Asa”, but words starting with the letter O are the rules of the Russian language. Only when the child remembers sounds in words where they are stressed, can you look for these letters in words that are not stressed.
Important: all cubes, alphabets, magnetic sets and other materials used for learning must be chosen more carefully.
Important: if your child has difficulty perceiving letters and sounds, do not learn the entire alphabet, but first learn only the basic ones: A, O, U, Y, E. Of the consonants M, L, P, B, D.
Some methods suggest studying only voiced consonants first, and leaving voiceless and hissing consonants for later. It seems right, but we forget about the individual approach. For a child, it is faster to perceive the information that surrounds him on a subconscious level throughout the day. If the boy’s name is Shurik, his father’s name is Zhora, his grandmother’s name is Tanya, then the sounds and letters T, Sh, Zh need to be taught on the same basis as M - mother, B - woman.
Important: do not confuse your child; if you teach sounds, make one sound - not ME and not EM, but “M”. If your child is confused, think about how easy it is to understand the information you are trying to teach him.
Learning syllables
We learn syllables with each vowel letter separately. 2-3 days for each vowel. Technique:
- The adult reads and the child repeats.
- We read the syllable together.
- The child reads all the syllables in order.
- The adult shows the syllables in sequence, the child reads so that simple words are obtained: DAS-SHA, MA-SHA...
- A sheet with consonants is added. The adult shows, the child reads: YES-R, SHA-R, PA-R...
- After practicing syllables with one vowel, those previously covered are added. The adult shows the syllables, the child reads: WE-LA, RA-WE, MA-LY-SH.
- We use game forms:
a) the child seems to be saving enchanted toys (dolls, soldiers). For every word read, one toy is saved.
b) the child reads one syllable, the adult shows another to form a word, the child reads the second part of the word.
c) a more complex option - on the contrary: the adult shows and reads the first syllable, and the child selects the second.
Syllables with a fixed vowel
One of the most effective methods of teaching reading is when the child is shown syllables in which the vowel is the same and the consonant changes. For example, the method of Sergei and Olga Fedin begins to teach reading syllables from this stage.
Write out or print out the syllables in close-up:
We read line by line until the child does it confidently. Then we read the same syllables in columns. When the entire table is fluently mastered, move on to syllables with more complex vowels E, Yo, Ya, Yu:
Syllables with first vowel
Only after the child has mastered reading syllables where the first letter is a consonant, proceed to reading syllables where the first letter is a vowel.
Important: Zhukov’s famous primer teaches in a different order - there the child learns the letter and immediately the syllables with it, where the first and second consonant are. Then move on to the next letter. Offer your child an ABC book, if he understands it, great, this technique is for you. If Zhukov “does not go”, put him aside and do not try to read “reverse” syllables (starting with a vowel).
If your baby gets confused and reads VU instead of HC or NA instead of AN, calmly correct him. Read also line by line, then, when you master it, by column.
Reading skills are developed through systematic practice; stop practicing as soon as you see that the child has become distracted. At first, he may sit with you, repeating syllables, for five minutes or a little more. The optimal duration of classes is 10-15 minutes daily. For a 4-year-old child, even 20 minutes is a very long time. 20 minutes are allocated for activities that do not require serious stress - modeling, social studies, educational games or cartoons.
Important: if your son or daughter cannot read certain syllables, perhaps due to the fact that he does not pronounce certain sounds (L, R or sibilants), do not use them in reading until he can read those syllables fluently which are easier for him.
Reading simple words
When the syllables are mastered, you can move on to reading words. The simplest ones, consisting of three letters:
It will be better if the words are familiar to children. For example, the words TYUK or PIR would be good to know to expand your vocabulary, but not necessary. When learning to read, the less extraneous information and distractions, the easier it is to learn. All children are different, some pick it up on the fly, but for others it’s serious work. The mother should be sensitive and sense how tense the child is.
The order of reading words by syllables is as follows:
- Reading three letter words
- Reading simple words of two syllables,
- Reading words of three or more syllables,
- Reading simple sentences
- Reading short stories (several connected sentences) or poetry.
Important: after your child learns to read simple words, do not immediately move on to large texts. The result is important for the child, he must understand the meaning of what he read, it is like a reward for his work: he read, made some discovery, learned a story. But children 4-5 years old learn information better while reading, consisting of 4-5 sentences. Reading is not at all the same as listening.
If you have a long tale in front of you, read in paragraphs. After each one, stop and analyze the meaning of what you read.
Reading books broken down by syllables
There are many good books from the “my first books” series, good texts in Zhukov’s ABC book.
Texts should be simple, easy to understand and free of blunders, absurdities and nonsense. Remember that the information from the book will certainly be remembered and stored in memory.
Before purchasing syllable-by-syllable books, skim through to make sure the text is age-appropriate for your child.
High-quality literature for children from the “Read by Syllables” series is marked with a note indicating what age it is intended for. For children 3 years old - these are poems in two sentences, for 4 years old - poems and short fairy tales, such as “The Ryaba Hen”, “Turnip”, “Kolobok”, “Masha and the Bears”. For children 5 years old, short fairy tales and stories.
Olga Grishanova (teacher)
It's also the start of the school year in kindergarten. The children are gradually returning from vacation. Many people have learned letters over the summer and are beginning to read a little syllable by syllable.
Where do the texts for reading syllables come from? Of course, from the ABC book. Interesting are the old primers that grandmothers used to learn. The second source is the Internet. We also prepare texts for our 5-6 year old students depending on their existing skills, starting with simple and short texts. It is better to read a little, but more often.
In the first texts for reading by syllables, each sentence begins on a new line. This makes it easier for children to understand the text. The first texts to be read syllable by syllable should be printed large.
It is useful to accompany them with coloring books, a familiar activity for preschoolers. The tasks are as follows.
- First you need to read it to your mother, grandmother or anyone else.
- Color it.
- Label the items in the picture.
Why is it worth writing words? When a child reads, hearing and vision interact. When writing, I use auditory (I pronounce), visual (I record the image of the word) and motor analyzers.
In addition to narrative texts, it is useful to use short simple poems for reading syllable by syllable.
How to prepare texts for reading syllable by syllable?
Parents teaching their child to read can prepare the material themselves. You need to know the following. Texts for reading by syllables may look different. It all depends on how we divide the word into syllables.
1. Divide words into syllables as in a primer with hyphens (short horizontal lines). Below several texts are divided into syllables in this way.
2. Words are divided into syllables by vertical lines.
3. Syllables are highlighted from below with arcs.
Something like this. It's better to start with the first option with hyphens. The first texts should be very simple in content, as below, gradually becoming more complex.. First, you give a picture to color. And then the child draws himself according to the meaning of the text. Texts for reading can also be downloaded on our website. Just prepare them using one of the methods suggested above.
Texts for reading by syllables
This is the cat Ku-zya.
At night, Ku-zya caught mice.
Then the cat slept on the couch.
And we are sitting in a hole.
- Cat's name?
- What are his actions?
- Why were the mice sitting in the hole?
Fishing.
Sa-ni had a daughter.
Sa-nya na-ko-fell the worm.
He went to the river.
There is a fish swimming in the river.
Sa-nya caught a fish.
- Boy's name?
- What was he doing?
- How many fish did you catch?
Tree.
This is de-re-vo.
The tree has a trunk.
The tree has a leaf.
The tree has branches.
Question. Na-zo-vi de-re-vo.
Cow.
Ko-ro-va eats se-no.
Ko-ro-va gives mo-lo-ko.
Ma-sha love-bit mo-lo-ko.
Ma-sha love-bit ka-shu.
Ma-sha has ru-my-ny-e cheeks.
Question. Why do Masha have rosy cheeks? (For some reason, all the mothers thought about diathesis)
In the forest.
The children went into the forest.
They are so-bi-ra-li ma-li-nu.
Near the house behind the bushes.
The children were frightened.
And from the bushes you-be-zha-la with-ba-ka Zhuch-ka.
Everyone felt better.
- Where did the children go?
- What were they doing in the forest?
- Who scared the children?
Summer
It's so red.
Why is it red?
Red means beautiful.
Ze-le-ny-e forests.
Go-lu-bo-e ne-bo.
Bright colors.
Beauty.
Na-ri-suy le something.
- Why is summer red?
- What forests?
- What a sky
- What flowers?
- Why do you like summer?
Ko-lo-kol-chi-ki
How many colors are there?
Why do you care?
Because it grows here in the fields and meadows.
Ko-lo-kol-chi-ki si-ni-e
Li-za is walking in the meadow.
Li-za so-bi-ra-et ko-lo-kol-chi-ki.
Liza has a va-za at home.
There's a co-lo-kol-chi-ki.
Na-ri-sui ko-lo-kol-chi-ki.
- Why are bluebells wildflowers?
- What color are the bells?
- Where is Lisa walking?
- Where will Lisa put the bells at home?
Teaching a child to put letters into words, and words into sentences, is not an easy task. On this difficult path, parents will need patience, accuracy and consistency. Today we will answer the main questions: how to teach a child to read syllables without the help of teachers, and what exercises for teaching reading at home are most effective.
Learning to read: is your child ready to learn to read?
According to psychologists, the best age for learning to read is from 4.5 to 6 years. In practice, a child strives to learn to read at the age of 5 years. It is worth remembering that each child is individual in his development, and if you do not meet the generally accepted deadlines, this only means that the learning process should be postponed a little.
There are a number of factors that indicate whether a child is currently ready to master the reading process. Here are the most important ones:
- No pronunciation problems– the child has the correct tempo and rhythm of speech, all sounds are delivered;
- No hearing problems– the child does not ask again many times, does not distort words that are easy to pronounce;
- Sufficient speech proficiency– a rich vocabulary, the ability to construct phrases and express one’s thoughts clearly for others;
- Developed phonemic hearing– the child can freely distinguish speech sounds, reproduce heard sounds, name the first/last sound in a word;
- Free orientation in space– the child clearly knows the concepts of right/left and top/bottom.
By carefully observing your child, you will notice the moment when he becomes interested in putting letters into words. The child will show familiar symbols on store signs to mom and dad, and one day he will try to read them in full. Of course, in his first attempts, the baby will probably read the word incorrectly, but this is not scary - it indicates that his brain is ripe for learning a new skill.
Known methods for teaching children to read
| Methodology | How it works |
|---|---|
| Training using the Doman method | Global reading – this phrase can describe Doman’s technique. It involves learning to read whole words and is based on the peculiarities of the baby’s brain. The idea is to surround the child with words written on bright cards/posters (“table”, “chair”, “wardrobe”, etc.). Mechanical memory allows a child to remember and retain an accumulating volume of simple words. You can start following the method as early as 5-6 months. |
| Syllable reading method | A traditional method, which from year to year remains the most popular among parents who want to teach their child to read at home. The child first puts letters into syllables, and then into words. In children over 4.5-5 years old, this method brings quick results. The material is easily reinforced in game tasks. This method of teaching is used in kindergartens and schools, which is a definite plus. |
| Warehouse reading method | In this technique, the word is not divided into syllables, but sounds are combined into warehouses. For example, the word “cup” will not be read “cup-ka”, but “cha-sh-ka”. The warehouse can consist of one letter, a consonant and a vowel, or a consonant and a hard/soft sign. Despite the fact that the technique is very common, there is a possibility that the child will have to relearn it at school - after all, they use the method of reading by syllables. The habit of splitting words into words can take root, which will subsequently make it difficult to perceive the text and slow down reading. |
| Zaitsev cubes | The technique helps to master the basics of reading through the perception of syllables. Various tables, colorful cubes of different colors with fillers take an active part in visual learning to connect letters into syllables. Lessons with the help of Zaitsev's cubes are highly effective during group interaction (in kindergartens, child development centers, etc.). The technique under consideration helps to obtain maximum results in minimal time for those children who find it difficult to sit in one place. |
Moms and dads who are trying to teach their child to read as quickly as possible should be very sensitive in their approach to this important issue. To ensure that your child does not lose interest in reading from the first lessons, we suggest you get acquainted with current tips. They will help instill in your child a love of books during the learning process.
Alphabet from an early age
Let the child, from infancy, “absorb” into himself, like a sponge, the names of letters in the form of songs and games. Short, memorable poems about letters will be imprinted in the child’s memory, and by the age of two, the child will be able to quite consciously recite them. From time to time, include various songs and mini-cartoons about the alphabet, especially since in this presentation the letters are memorized effortlessly.
Unobtrusive training
For a preschooler, play is the main process through which he learns about the world around him, including when mastering skills. Boring classes and cramming will not bring the desired result; moreover, the child may completely stop loving reading. Present information in a warm environment, patiently, and the child will learn the necessary knowledge at a pace that suits him specifically.
Exercise every day
If you started to take the first steps in reading syllables, and they were unsuccessful, it’s too early to give up. You can take a break of 1-2 days and then try again. Did your child manage to read a couple of syllables made of vowels? Great, that means initial reading skills have been acquired and need to be developed. Exercise regularly, and the results will not be long in coming.
Get interested in reading
Often, learning difficulties arise with those children who were practically not read to in childhood, and their relatives did not set their own example of reading books. This can be fixed. Stories, fairy tales, and children's fiction that are interesting to your child should appear in your home. Make it a family tradition to read a short work before bed. The baby will not refuse parental attention, and an interesting story will stimulate his interest in the book.
From simple to complex
It happens that a child knows the names of letters, but does not know the sounds. A child will not be able to master reading until he has learned the pronunciation of sounds well. In this case, deal with it step by step:
- study sounds;
- move on to reading syllables;
- teach your child how to merge syllables.
Only after completing these three stages can you begin to learn to read full words.
Detailed video with tips from a teacher - learning to read:
First steps to reading: getting to know the letters
To teach a child to read, it is necessary to maintain an interest in books and letters from an early age. As a rule, at 2-3 years old children begin to show attention to the alphabet. It is very important for parents to provide the right developmental space at this moment.
Visualization
A child will remember the letters quite quickly if a bright poster with the Russian alphabet is in his field of vision. The baby points to the letter - say the corresponding sound. You may have to return to “A” and “B” more than once and repeat them, but this is how your baby will remember them faster. For busy parents, an interactive panel with letters will be a good help - it itself sounds the letter that the child clicks on.
Touch
To memorize the letters of the alphabet, it is important for a child to use his sense of touch. To develop your child’s abstract thinking, invite him to get acquainted with letters molded from plasticine or cut out of cardboard. Pay attention to the similarity of objects and letters - the horizontal bar looks like a “P”, and the donut is the spitting image of the letter “O”.
Tea party by letters
The process of learning letters will be very fun and tasty if you offer your child an edible alphabet. Using curly pasta, you can cook Abvgdeyka soup, and for dessert, bake your own homemade alphabet cookies.
Magnetic entertainment
With the help of a magnetic alphabet, you can turn the process of learning letters into a fun and memorable game. For example, 1-2 year old children can be lured by simply attaching a letter to the surface of the refrigerator and saying it. “Give me the letter! What do we have? This is the letter A! If your child is already 3 years old, he will enjoy playing “magnetic fishing.” You need all the magnetic letters in a container, and make an improvised fishing rod from a stick and string with a magnet. Having caught a “fish”, pronounce its name, drawing an analogy with the word. “This is a fish F! Look how much she looks like a beetle!”
By keys
Children love to imitate the actions of adults. Let your child press buttons in an open text editor to his heart's content - he will be interested in the letters appearing on the screen. Show me how to type the simplest word “mother”. You can print out the first letter and give it to your child. Even if there is a completely unthinkable combination, this will be a kind of impetus for memorizing the alphabet. Also, to master letters, you can give your child an old computer keyboard to “tear to pieces.”
Mastering the principle of reading syllables
Children usually pronounce each sound separately, and this is understandable - it takes them time to remember what the next letter is called. The parents' task is to help the child overcome this natural difficulty.
You need to start the exercises with words consisting only of vowels. For example, AU, IA and UA. For these simple words, you need to draw/choose illustrations - for example, a girl lost in the forest (“AU!”), a baby lying in a cradle (“UA!”), and a cute donkey chewing grass (“EA!”). Ask your child not to read the inscription, but simply to sing it. You can sing slowly, “draw out” the syllable, but don’t stop: AAAAUU, IIIIAAA, UUUAAA.
Note! Be sure to teach your child to recognize exclamatory and interrogative sentences. Use your voice to highlight the moment of exclamation; the baby should distinguish “Huh?” and “Ah!”
Don’t be afraid to return to what you have covered; continue to teach your child to read the simplest syllables. When the first sound of a syllable is a consonant, it is more difficult for a child to read it. But, nevertheless, you also need to learn to read it, without this you can’t do it at school. Let the child “pull” NNN and then put A, O, or U. The boy gives the girl candy - NNN (“NA!”). The kid is swinging on a horse - NNNO (“BUT!”). The girl took her mother’s hand - MMMA (“MA!”). Please note that the child may “pull” the first sound long enough to remember the next one.
Important! Do not rush your child if he thinks while reading a syllable that is difficult for him - when he gets a feel for the principle of adding syllables, the process of mastering the skill will go much faster.
If the child fails to read the word, then the parent should read it himself, then try to read it again with the child. Then move on to the next syllable. Regardless of success, encourage and praise your little student.
Most primers for children 6-7 years old suggest learning using syllabic tables. They are a list of various syllables that do not have a semantic meaning, but are based on visualized memorization. Example: for the letter “N” the sounds are “NA-NO-NU-NY-NI”, for “M” - “MA-MO-MU-WE-MI”, for “T” - “TA-TO-TU-YOU” -TI”, etc. Of course, such tables have a right to life, but they are not at all interesting to children. It is absolutely not necessary to force a child to read various “VU” and “VA”; it is quite possible to cope without such outdated methodological material.
Advice! A child should not get tired of reading. In the first month, read syllables no more than 3-4 times a week. Let the lessons go not in a row, but every other day. From the second or third month you can teach your child to read daily.
Games to help your child learn to read
Reading skill requires diligence and regular practice. To make learning easier, look at pictures in books, discuss the situations depicted in these pictures, and make up stories based on them. Communicate and talk more with your child - this will help him develop thinking and coherent speech.
To discover the wonderful, interesting and vast world of books, we offer you games for learning syllables, their correct pronunciation and memorization. Exercises in these games are suitable for children from 3 to 7 years old.
| Letter learning games | Games for the ability to add syllables | Games to develop reading skills |
|---|---|---|
| Together with your child, create images of letters that he can play with. They should be bright and memorable. You can make cards yourself with letters and animals/objects depicted on them (A – STORK, B – DRUM, etc.). | A simple and at the same time interesting game - “Make a Word”. It is based on circles with written syllables and pictures that tell the child what word to form. For example, a picture of a river. The child must choose two circles. On the first circle the syllable is RE, on the second - KA. A picture of porridge: choose circles with the syllables KA and SHA. | Game "Make a word". The child needs to make a word from mixed up syllables and letters. For example: we create a game situation - granddaughter Masha decided to give her grandmother gifts and wrote them down so as not to forget. Suddenly a strong wind blew in and mixed everything up. Let's help Mashenka remember what she wanted to give to her grandmother by making up the correct words from the mixed up syllables and letters. |
| To memorize letters and sounds, recite short association poems, for example: A-ist A-zbu-ku-became, On A-bus-bus o-poz-dal. The Cat is looking at Kartin-ku, On Kar-tin-ka, the Whale floats. O-slick sees O-bla-ka, O-fucks them re-ka. |
Game “Find the hidden word”. You need to lay out a path of different words in front of your child. The reader's task is to choose what you wished for. For example, among the words: “cat, swing, chair, carrot,” find a “living” word - animal, vegetable, piece of furniture, children's entertainment. | Game exercise “Read quickly.” The child should pronounce the words as quickly as possible: – soap, soap, soap, milk, soap; – cheese, cheese, cheese, peace, cheese; - saw, saw, saw, linden, saw; – salt, salt, salt, sel, salt; – river, river, hand, river, hand. |
| With your child, construct letters from available materials - pencils, matches, counting sticks or salt dough. | The game “Word in Word” is very interesting for children aged 5-6 years. You need to find a smaller word in a larger word, for example E-LEK-TRO-STAN-CI-YA: CAT, NOSE, THRONE, etc. | Game "Name What You See". The point of the game is that the child must name everything that he sees around him with a certain letter. You can also name animals (CAT, RAT, RABBIT), toys (BALL, CAR), or the names of cartoon characters (CARLSON, KROSH) by a certain letter. |
| Create a coloring book where a specific letter will live on each page. For letters, you can draw a house, or decorate the letter with a design starting with it (A- ASTRA, B - BEREG, etc.). | Game “Make a syllable from halves.” To play, you need to write different syllables on cardboard cards, cut them in half horizontally, then mix them. The child's task is to collect the cards and read the syllables written on them. | Game exercise “Guess what is wrong.” The child is asked to look at a picture with a misspelled word underneath it. The task is to read the word syllable by syllable, find the error and replace it with the correct letter (for example, KO-RO-VA and KO-RO-NA) |
| To study letters, you can use board games - dominoes, alphabet lotto. A parent can make a lotto with letters on their own. To make it, you will need 8 cardboard cards with written letters, as well as small pictures with letters that the child will name to search on the cards. | Walking games are a good way to help you understand the principle of reading syllables. You can purchase such games or make them yourself, using ready-made walking games as a basis. You need to write various syllables in the empty cells. You need to move the chip along them. During the game, the child throws a dice. The baby must read the syllables that come his way. The process can result in audio tracks consisting of 4-6 syllables. The winner of the game is the one who reads all the syllables faster and gets to the finish line. | Game exercise “What’s in the plate.” Before eating, ask your child to say syllable by syllable which food is in front of him. Help pronounce words with a large number of syllables, while setting the pace of pronunciation (KA-SHA, MO-LO-KO, PU-RE, OV-SYAN-KA). One of the interesting variants of this game could be the game of “cook”. The child’s task is to create a menu for lunch using words starting with the chosen letter, for example “M”. If there are not enough words for one letter, then you can offer to find products in the refrigerator that begin with 2 letters, etc. |
Pay attention! How to quickly teach a child to read so that he does not get tired of the learning process and does not lose interest? You need to work with him regularly, but at the same time not for long. For the first lessons, 5-7 minutes will be enough. Gradually this time can be increased to 15-20 minutes. If you conduct classes in a playful way, it will be easy and not boring for your child to learn the skill of reading.
Exercises with words: strengthening the skill
As soon as the child learns to merge letters into syllables, parents can be congratulated for being halfway through the journey. Now the most important thing is to consolidate the acquired skill. In this case, fun and interesting tasks will be used.
| What to play | What to do |
|---|---|
| Who eats what? | Write the names of the animals in the column: CAT, KO-RO-VA, SO-BA-KA, BEL-KA, RABBIT, MOUSE. And to the right and left of the words, draw pictures: fish, grass, bone, nut, carrot, cheese. The child’s task is to read the word and “feed” each pet with the right food using the arrows. |
| Who's the odd one out? | Write a few words in a column: GRU-SHA, YAB-LO-KO, A-NA-US, PO-MI-DOR. Ask your child to cross out the extra word, and be sure to explain his choice. This way you can play with the names of vegetables, clothes/shoes, flowers, trees, birds, etc. |
| Big and small | Write the words DE-RE-VO, GO-RA, GRU-ZO-VIK, ZHI-RAF, I-GO-DA, DROP-LA, BU-SI-NA at the top of the sheet. Below, draw two pictures - a house (big) and a chicken (small). Let the child read the words, determine which ones are big and small, and connect them with lines to the matching pictures (a berry, a drop and a bead for a chicken, the rest of the words for a house). In a similar way, words can be divided into sweet and sour, heavy and light, etc. |
| Who lives where? | Write down the names of wild and domestic animals mixed together: WOLF, ELK, LI-SA, KA-BAN, KO-RO-VA, KO-ZA, CAT, SO-BA-KA, HEDGEHOG. Under the words, draw a forest on one side, and a village hut with a fence on the other. Let the child read the words and use arrows to depict where each animal lives. |
Forming the habit of reading books from infancy
At the beginning of this part, we advise you to familiarize yourself with the experience of your mother. How to teach a child to read syllables (video):
Personal example
“A child learns from what he sees in his home.” The well-known expression comes in handy when developing a child’s understanding of the importance of reading. If the baby often sees his parents and relatives with a book, then reading will become a part of his life. Let your child know from an early age that reading is interesting, and a good book can easily replace a computer game or watching a cartoon.
Vivid illustrations
When choosing a book to start reading, do not forget that pictures are important for children. Thanks to expressive, bright drawings, following the plot will be easier and more interesting for the child.
Regular reading
A love for books does not develop overnight. If an adult regularly reads short fairy tales aloud to a child, after a month or two the child himself will show more interest in the works. The first words you read are often those on the cover of your favorite book.
Possibility of choice
The child should be interested in what you plan to read with him. Already at 4 years old, a little reader is able to determine how interesting a particular book is to him. At this age, it’s time for the first trip to the library - let your child choose a book according to his own desires.
Limit TV viewing
Reading, of course, requires certain intellectual efforts from the child. The same cannot be said about television - it literally takes away the opportunity to dream up, providing ready-made images. You shouldn’t completely deprive yourself of watching cartoons, but it makes sense to limit the time you spend behind the screen and strictly select the permitted TV programs.
Reading for preschoolers is always a new, interesting process. And this is not surprising, because they discover a whole world, previously unknown and unfamiliar.
First, children become familiar with letters and sounds, then learn to put them into words. And then the moment comes when the child tries to read on his own. You cannot immediately give your child complex texts for this purpose, and not yet divided into syllables. Difficulties that arise in reading can completely discourage you from studying further. So we will learn to read, taking as a basis stories and fairy tales specially adapted for preschoolers.
Stories for children
If you don’t know which texts to start with, you can buy or download and print collections of texts on our website under the general title “Reading by syllables.” Such literature is specially adapted for children. This does not mean that the stories of famous writers are somehow changed in it: the selection of texts in such books is aimed at preschool children, and the words in the texts are divided into syllables for reading, which greatly facilitates the learning process for the child.
On our website there are also separate texts with a special division into syllables. They can also be printed and offered to children to read.
What stories are best for children?
Of course, these are the works of those writers who specialized in children's themes: M. Prishvin, K. Paustovsky, A. Barto, N. Nosov, Lev Kassil, S. Marshak, etc. It is not necessary to read the stories in full: for young children it will be enough select one short passage, divide it into syllables and present it for reading.
How to instill a love of reading? How can parents study with their children using such texts?
You should not leave your child alone with a story if he is not yet a good reader. This can discourage any interest in subsequent education if the child encounters difficulties and he cannot cope with them. Sit down with your child and start reading together. It is very important for children that adults show interest in their affairs. At the same time, ask your child to help you and read this or that word. When you finish reading to the end, discuss the passage: let the child retell what he understood from the text. Do not ignore what you read: the baby must realize that he is reading not for dad or mom, but for himself, for his own understanding.
You can download a set of cards with words.
Learning to read individual words syllable by syllable. 
Read the children's names.
Picture puzzles with syllables. Fairy tales
However, the best tool for teaching children to read is fairy tales. Everyone loves them, not just children. First take a fairy tale that the child knows well: this will make it easier for him to read, being familiar with the plot.
The most famous writers who devoted themselves to fairy tales are G.H. Andersen, A.S. Pushkin, C. Perrault, and the Brothers Grimm. Surely, when your child could not read yet, he listened to the fairy tales of these writers performed by you. And today he will read these fairy tales syllable by syllable.
A 3-year-old girl reads syllable by syllable:
Fairy tales for children by modern writers, for example, L. Uspensky, are also perfect for reading. They sometimes better meet the needs of the time: the creatures that inhabit our technological world operate in them, and the devices around us come to life. And yet, do not deprive your child of the opportunity to get acquainted with good old fairy tales, because entire generations have grown up on them.
By reading fairy tales and poems syllable by syllable, you not only teach children, but also introduce them to the enormous cultural heritage of previous eras. Reading develops in a child curiosity, respect for the work of other people, and the desire to learn new things. All this will definitely be useful to children in adulthood. But most importantly, you will be sure that you will cultivate kindness and humanity in them.
You can download a free selection of more than 35 books (fairy tales, stories, poems, simple texts and coloring pages) based on SYLLABLES or select individual ready-made texts for yourself below.
A little story about a squirrel. 
An excerpt from a book about Winnie the Pooh and Piglet. 
Russian Language Day, also known as Pushkin Day, is celebrated more often by adults and schoolchildren involved in the subject. This applies to kids less often, and in vain: after all, they have to learn Russian for the longest time. We suggest that you don’t put it on hold and start showing educational cartoons to your little ones - they are most likely already watching TV anyway, and with these fun, easy-to-understand videos they will be able to remember the letters faster and better.
Let us remind you that we have a general selection of educational cartoons for kids, and now here is a review of popular videos on YouTube, where they will try to teach your children to read and write in an advanced modern format.
Educational cartoons: Talking ABC
Let's start with the basics - with the alphabet. Here, plasticine letters turn into animals, make sounds corresponding to the type and transform further according to the alphabet. All the names are pronounced (and more than once), the animals look extremely cute, friendly and in the good traditions of plasticine cartoons. They also have an application for tablets and phones - for those who want to press the buttons themselves.
17 minutes of educational joy for children 3−6 years old.
The authors of this video (channel “Mizyaka-Dizyaka”, name from the creators of “Abuuuv!” and “Azyabatska”) know firsthand about the benefits of associations. Their speaking letters are maximally supported by images and sounds, where near the “D” there is a woodpecker who is pecking and smoke, and “Y” sparkles with New Year’s garlands.
5 minutes of doing their own visual business of letters for the little ones. You will find other educational cartoons of the channel follow the link.
Source: Mizyaka Dyzyaka
Cartoon Russian alphabet from, A to Z from Auntie Owl
Let's say right away that there are a lot of similar videos - with Fixies, Barboskin , Smeshariki and other cartoon characters to suit the child's taste. And this is not exactly a cartoon - rather a cross between a video tutorial and the fashionable genre of “opening kinder surprises” today. Here, after reading the words, the kids are actually teased with an egg being opened with a toy inside, and they also burst balloons in hopes of children’s delight, recite game lines from the characters, and perform other typical actions designed to get a large number of views from young viewers. And yet they really teach you to read words here - syllable by syllable, slowly, methodically and intelligibly.
32 minutes for children 1−7 years old (why waste time on trifles, really!).
Source: KapitoshkaTV
Two funny pencils and their assistant “Lisa the Scissors” in an exciting word reading blockbuster. By letters, syllables, in whole, with pictures, educational facts and a combination of different animation styles. The channel is seriously aimed at teaching children to read, there is even video instructions about how to work with their cartoons. Extremely detailed and clear. Well, there are similar lessons on the channel whole series- just as bright and favorably distinguished by a reduced level of “lisping” with the target audience.
6 minutes for those who want to teach reading to children from 3 years old.
Surely you are familiar with such stylish Soviet cartoons as “Wow, a talking fish!”, “In the blue sea, in white foam” and “Look, Maslenitsa!” Their author is the famous Armenian director Robert Sahakyants, who continues to create animation today. For the little ones. His “Learning to Read” is a large cartoon with a recognizable style, strange animals and a visual educational element. It's definitely worth mentioning as well "ABC for kids". The big-lipped face on the monitor screen may remind you a little of that same talking fish, but that’s even better, isn’t it?
45 minutes (we said that this is a full-fledged cartoon), recommended for viewers from 3 years old.
Source: GetMovies
Learning Russian with Piggy
Combine the legendary “Good night, kids!” with Russian lessons - a simple but effective idea. Khryusha, Filya, Stepashka and the presenter on duty are trying to turn their studies into a fun, exciting game, and for fans of the original series, such training can really become a useful and organically perceived help.
10 minutes for those running to the screen to the sounds of “Tired toys are sleeping” of any age. You will find more training videos with Piggy follow the link.
