Moo Baa…Learn, Learn, Learn

by Julie Douglas, Family Reading Program Director

Julie Douglas“I learned that there are many things I can do with a book to help my child learn.”
“I’ll never just ‘read’ a book and put it back on the shelf. Lots of fun activities to do with books after you read.”
“A book is really like a toy! I learned how to use books for fun.”

These are just a few of the comments we hear from READ from the START participants after they have read and explored the children’s books used in the RFTS program. Under the guidance of a RFTS Discussion Leader, parents and caregivers discover that sharing a book with a child can be a very rich experience. And reading it is only the beginning! Let’s take a look at one of the RFTS books and see what parents are learning to do.

MOO BAA LA LA LA is a delightfully silly book by Sandra Boynton. Chosen for it’s wonderful rhymes, rich vocabulary, and high kid-appeal, MOO BAA LA LA LA is one of the books a RFTS parent will take home to share with a child. But there is more to this humorous little board book than first meets the eye.

Print Motivation
One of the best reasons to read to a child is that it instills in the child a love of books and story. Experts call this “print motivation.” Children who love books are much more motivated to learn to read. So how do we help a child fall in love with books? One way is to choose books that YOU enjoy reading. When the story sharing experience is positive and fun, a child can’t help but pick up on the parent’s enthusiasm. With its bright colors and playful language, MOO BAA LA LA LA is often a parent favorite. Because it is so much fun for the parent to read, it is equally fun for the child.

Print Awareness
A pre-reader is naturally focused on the illustrations in a book, but a parent can help him to also notice the print. In MOO BAA LA LA LA, the words that represent the sounds made by each animal are written in large, bold print. Point to the words as the three pigs sing LA LA LA. Even the simple act of letting a child hold the book and turn the pages is teaching him how a book works.

Letter Knowledge
Most parents are very interested in helping their pre-reader learn the alphabet. Alphabet books are great, but any book can fill the bill. Encourage your child to look for the first letter of her name on the pages. Draw pictures of animals and show your child how to write the animal’s name or the sound it makes.

Vocabulary
Did you know that when you read to a child, you are exposing him to three times the number of words you use in everyday conversation? Building a child’s vocabulary happens naturally when we read aloud. In MOO BAA LA LA LA, rhinoceroses SNORT and SNUFF. How often do those words come up in your daily conversations? A large vocabulary will be a valuable tool for your child when it comes time to learn to read.

Phonological Awareness
If you have ever noticed your child babbling a sound and or saying nonsense words, you have seen phonological awareness in action. Pre-readers learn to hear the smaller sounds that make up words. They play with these little building blocks of language when they recite nursery rhymes of sing songs. Reading books with rhyming words (like MOO BAA LA LA LA) is a great workout for little ears.

Narrative Skills
Picture books are perfect for growing a child’s narrative skills. Can your child retell the story using the pictures? Talk about the details in the illustrations. Your child will recognize the animals in the MOO BAA LA LA LA. Has she ever seen a real sheep? What would a sheep’s fur feel like? Do pigs really know how to sing and dance? The question at the end of this book is a perfect way to extend this book. “What do you say?” Encouraging a child to talk about her ideas, feelings, and experiences is a wonderful way to start a child on the path to becoming a lifelong learner.

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