Be a Hero – Teach a Child to Read!
The Alpha-Phonics Blog
Learning to Play Again - Adding Imagination to your Home-schooling
Prior to the electronic invasion of our homes, it was not uncommon to encounter a wide variety of play activities. Building blocks, paper airplanes, trains made from cardboard boxes, paints and crayons, dress-up wardrobes, Fisher Price’s Little People sets and more. I think it’s time to bring these activities back into our homes!
Imagination, creativity, social and emotional development, language and communication skills, thinking, learning and problem solving, and physical development, are among the benefits of pretend play.
Five reasons to encourage pretend play
Source: Therapies for Kids Website
“Pretend play, it seems, is under attack from a fast-paced digital world. Maybe it’s time to start changing that.”
1. To encourage imagination & creativity
Builds a child’s ability for flexibility and then creativity.
How to think for themselves.
Helps children understand another point of view.
2. Supports social & emotional development
As they pretend to be different people or control objects, they are practicing social and emotional roles of life.
They learn how to walk in someone else’s shoes – often mum or dad.
Develop self-esteem and self-awareness.
Learn how to recognize and respond to others feelings when involved in group imaginary activities.
3. Improves language and communication skills
They learn new language that they might not encounter every day.
It’s fun and provides opportunities for discussion.
Gives them control and can help decrease anxiety as language becomes more familiar.
They have to communicate their thoughts to others – an essential social skill.
4. Develops thinking, learning, and problem-solving
By the nature of pretend play, children are presented with problems and scenarios to solve or plan.
How to cope/change when something doesn’t go to plan in a game.
Develop their memory.
Abstract thinking – when an object/person takes on a different meaning.
5. Enhances physical development:
Often physical – e.g. being an aeroplane, climbing ladders as a fire fighter, etc.
Fine motor skills developed while feeding and dressing a doll.
Learning about rough and tumble and limits.
How to encourage pretend play:
Play together face to face so your child can copy your gestures/pretend actions.
Follow your child’s lead – play with things your child is interested in.
Keep it simple – repetition is fun.
Take turns – the play becomes a “conversation.”
Choose the right toys.
Introduce new ideas when they can link ideas together – e.g. if they like to play with cars, take them to the mechanic.
Benefits of pretend play:
Allows you new ways to connect with your child
You can follow their lead and join in with their interests.
Motivating and connecting for all involved.
Helps your child think symbolically.
Develops critical thinking.
Toys for pretend play:
Vehicles (not just for boys!)
Common in children’s lives – so good for simple pretend.
They can put a driver in and go to the mechanic.
Use a shoe box to make a car/bus.
Playdough – In early play, make simple/familiar objects. Later, make food for the tea set, make roads, etc.
Costumes and props – old hats/shoes/scarves/coats. Bags/briefcase/boxes for store/shop, etc.
Favorite stuffed animal or doll – great for feeding and pretending real life situations.
Puppets – moving parts help them come to “life.”
Encourages joint/peer play in older children.
Blocks and Lego – initially might build simple and familiar objects (e.g. house/car). Later might “pretend” that individual blocks are something real (e.g. a bed/food for animals, etc.).
Toy food/dishes/groceries – initially feed the animal, later then a restaurant, have a tea party.
Deaf Mother Teaches all her Children to Read with Alpha-Phonics!
Testimonial
““I know you have many people tell you that your program does work, but how many DEAF parents have told you?””
Six years ago, my older daughter Chayah was taught using your Alpha-Phonics book and she learned to read at age 4. Today she collects books such as John Grisham’s novels (her best liked books), Nancy Drew; The Boxcar Children, Smithsonian magazines, and she read almost the entire library in my living room. There were times I didn’t think some books would interest her but she read from first page to last page in every book. Even rereading them. She reads books like The Complete Book of Food and Nutrition by J.I. Rodale (I always thought these books were for adults but she proved me wrong). This week she is reading “The Beautiful Mind” The Life of Mathematical Genius and Nobel Laureate John Nash.
My five year old son, Ru, just read the entire book “The Fire Truck” to a neighbor who didn’t really think he knows all the words. She demanded to know what kind of program I use to teach them. She is spreading the word.
I wanted you to know that your program does really work and I have been trying to convince many friends and relatives that it was a mistake for them to use other programs to teach their children how to read. All of them were impressed by our children’s (ages 10, 5 and 2- the two year old is recognizing the sound symbols) ability to read.
I know you have many people tell you that your program does work but how many DEAF parents have told you that even a deaf parent who teaches children with your program does work. I am the proof because all my three children read. I recently registered my ten year old daughter in Eula public school. They knew I home-school all my children. They were surprised that my daughter has the highest reading comprehension score than anyone in their fifth and sixth grade classes. I put my daughter in public school because she wants to experience the school system and have P.E., Music, and interaction with other students for two years.
Sincerely,
Cheri Walters
