Read before bedtime. Make a habit of reading books to children before they go to sleep.
Use letters for learning. Read and sort out magnetic or sponge letters to create fun and meaningful words. Spell out children's names and other important words such as “Mom” and “Dad.”
Label for learning. Use markers to write labels on index cards or masking tape in order to label items around the house as your children begin learning the names of items. Model how to make the strokes of the letters then have your children trace the letters. Make the activity fun by allowing children to decorate the labels. Vary the activity with older children. Read labels of fun food items like cereal boxes as your children start learning more about language.
Read workbooks. Choose workbooks (as opposed to coloring books) with exercises that help develop letter recognition skills. Look for lessons that include dotted letters to trace, colors, shapes, sight words or words that your children should be able to identify at first glance.
Create books together. Make learning to read fun with handmade books. Fold two to three sheets of white copy paper in half widthwise. Fasten the pages with staples along the folded edge or the centerfold. Make up a story then write it on the pages. Start small with beginning readers. Try to make alphabet book, for example, “A is for apple.” Have children draw pictures to accompany the story.
Go the library. Make the trip to the library an event. Sign up for any developmentally appropriate learning programs at your local library. Attend story time or book club meetings or enroll your children in a summer reading contest. Help children to pick out books they may find fun and interesting, but be sure to make selection that is suitable for learning to read.
Learn with signs. Make travel an opportunity for learning how to read road signs. Develop a fun game of spotting stop signs or license plates with certain vowels.