Wild Literacy - Animal FUn
Reading about and playing with animals can be a wonderful way for you to capture child’s attention. Animal storybooks teach new vocabulary through vibrant pictures and engaging stories. These books often incorporate songs, rhymes and predictable patterns, making it easier for your child to understand and recall words. Animal characters are not a specific gender or race, allowing your child to see themselves reflected in the story.
You can also use animal storybooks in many playful ways. Try using animal puppets, costumes or toys to retell familiar stories, such as the Three Little Pigs or Brown Bear, Brown Bear What Do You See? Allow your child to tell the story, providing time for pauses while they think and help with a simple prompt if they are stuck. This interactive play enhances language and listening abilities.
Using animal books to teach sounds is a fun and simple way to learn. As your child flips through pages, they meet different animals, each having its own unique sound. Practicing the “moo” of a cow, or “quack” of a duck you see in a book helps your child pair the sound with the animal, developing their background knowledge. Being silly and exaggerating the animal sounds keeps the mood light and engaging. Your child wants to have fun with you, reading together should always be fun!
