Read extensively to the child when they are infants and toddlers. Children will learn to listen and comprehend spoken language at a young age, preparing them for the written word. Choose pre-reader books that use many repetitive word and sentence structures.
Ask the preschooler to sit with you during reading time, making sure that the book's text is easily visible to the youngster. Point out sight words, such as "the" and "cat." Consistently point out the words each night using different books and stories.
Write the most common sight words found in the child's books onto flash cards with a pencil. Only choose between two and five words in the beginning. Make sure that the written letters are in simple, neat print so that the child will recognize the letter shapes.
Hold the flash cards up for the child to "read" on a daily basis. These sight words do not require the child to sound them out. The flash cards simply create a visual recognition activity, much like holding a picture of a cow and asking what animal it is.
Slowly add more sight words to the flash card stack. Add one or two words a week, depending on the child's progress. Do not overwhelm the child with extra words if he is struggling. Allow the child to absorb the vocabulary at his own pace.