One activity for parents with young children involves teaching them consonant and vowel sounds using card games, magnetic letters, phonics computer software programs or phonics DVDs. These materials provide an easy and fun way for children to develop the phonics skills necessary for learning to read and spell. The games, software programs and DVDs can be found on the Internet, at a local teacher's supply store or a local bookstore. Parents may want to contact their child's teacher first to ask for recommendations on which materials would be best to use with their child.
Parents can read nursery rhymes and decodable books together with their children. Stories written with a rhyming pattern offers opportunities for kids to learn even more words. Decodable books have phonically based text and in time, children can read them independently of their parents. The books focus on a sound or the spelling of a word that children practice as they read. The first books start off with simple words and other books in the series will have more difficult words. Dr. Seuss' classic series of books is an example of such books because they contain both rhyming patterns and are phonically based.
Another activity for parents if playing a phonics bingo game. Parents can buy a set of cards or create their own cards. Phonics bingo is played like traditional bingo with multiple players, only letters are used instead of numbers. To play, call out a word, such as "cat." Then have your child look for the letter that represents the initial or final consonant sound in that word. You can also do this with vowels. For instance, call out a word like "cold," then help your child identify the vowel sound he hears in that word. Then, look for the vowel on the card. Parents can decide whether to award a prize to the first child who calls out, "bingo."
Another activity for parents does not require cards, books or computers. For starters, play a verbal game with your child while preparing meals. Ask your child to tell you the beginning sound of the food that you're preparing, such as "b" for "beans" or "p" for "peas." You can also play verbal games while in the car. Look for specific objects and have your child tell you the beginning sound of that particular object. You can do this with traffic signs, like "stop" or store names, such as "Kmart" or "Wendy's." Not surprisingly, the universal sign that nearly all kids can point to and sound out is "McDonald's."