Helping Your Child Learn to Read and Write Their Own Name

Your child's name is most likely going to be the first word he/she will learn to read and write.   Fascinating, right?  Don't you want to give your child a head start?   They must first learn to recognize the letters in their own name before they can begin to write it.  Here are some tips for when your child is ready:

• Sing songs about your child's name, such as:  "E M I L Y, that's how we spell Emily!"   "A I D A N, that's how we spell Aidan!" 
• Write your child's first name on a sentence strip.  Cut out each letter so that your child can put their own name back together again like a puzzle!  Add your last name when your child is ready!  (This is another perfect way to practice phone numbers!)
• Use a golf pencil or a broken crayon to practice the perfect pencil grip.
• Use magnetic letters!  
• Use a wet paint brush or a wet fingertip on a dry chalk board and watch your child's name disappear and reappear!

I hope this list helps!