Early Literacy Activities Calendar for May

Thanks to the wonderful folks in the Youth Services Department of the West Chicago Public Library for sharing their Early Literacy Activities Calendar with us each month. Here's a bunch of easy, creative ideas for how during the month of May you can encourage an early love of reading in your child.

Photo by catd_mitchell on Flickr.May 1: Point out the first letter of your child's name. See how many you see today.

May 2: Narrate what you're doing while you make lunch or dinner.

May 3: Practice counting from 1 to 10. Can you do it backwards too?

May 4: Take a nature walk together, talking about what you see.

May 5: See how many words you can think of that rhyme with "cat."

May 6: Read a Mother Goose rhyme together.

May 7: Have a TV Turnoff Day -- play games, read and talk instead.

May 8: Use funny voices as you read a favorite book.

May 9: How many circles can you spot today?

May 10: Read an alphabet book together.

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Early Literacy Activities Calendar for April

Thanks to the great folks in the Youth Department at the West Chicago Public Library for sharing this montly calendar, full of easy and creative ways to promote a love of reading and words in young children.

Photo by catd_mitchell on Flickr.April 1: Make up a silly joke or some silly words together.

April 2: Narrate while you're doing while you make lunch or dinner.

April 3: Point out the first letter of your child's name. See how many you see today.

April 4: Practice counting from 1 to 10. Can you do it backwards too?

April 5: Let your child help you make the grocery list.

April 6: See how many squares you can find today.

Aprill 7: Read a bedtime story together - you don't have to wait til bedtime!

April 8: Take a nature walk together, talking about what you see.

April 9: Have a TV Turnoff Day - play games, read and talk instead.

April 10: Read an alphabet book together.

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Early Literacy Activities Calendar for February

Thanks to the wonderful folks in the Youth Services Department of the West Chicago Public Library for sharing their Early Literacy Activities Calendar with us each month. Here's a bunch of easy, creative ideas for how you can encourage an early love of reading in your child during February.

Photo by catd_mitchell on Flickr.Feb. 1: Use a flashlight or lamp to create hand shadows on the wall.

Feb. 2: Talk about the weather -- was the groundhog's prediction correct?

Feb. 3: Read a bedtime story together.

Feb. 4: See how many rectangles you can spot together today.

Feb. 5: Count the houses on your block -- what color are they?

Feb. 6: Have a TV Turnoff Day -- read or play games instead.

Feb. 7: Attend a storytime at your library today.

Feb. 8: Read a wordless book together and make up a story about the pictures.

Feb. 9: Let your child help you make a grocery list today.

Feb. 10: How many "V's" can you find today?

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Early Literacy Activities Calendar for January

Thanks to the wonderful folks in the Youth Services Department of the West Chicago Public Library for sharing their Early Literacy Activities Calendar with us each month. Here's a bunch of easy, creative ideas for how you can resolve to raise a reader in 2013!

Photo by catd_mitchell on Flickr.Jan. 5: Show your child how to cut a snowflake from a coffee filter.

Jan. 6: Read a rhyming book together.

Jan. 7: Play a game of peek-a-boo.

Jan. 8: Read under the covers with a flashlight together.

Jan. 9: Make a tunnel using blankets, boxes or chairs. Go on a stuffed "animal hunt."

Jan. 10: Make a list of places you will go today; check them off as you go.

Jan. 11: Have a pretend "phone conversation" with your child.

Jan. 12: Make a snowman using cotton balls and glue.

Jan. 13: Sing a song together, clapping along with the rhythm.

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Early Literacy Activities Calendar for December

I'm very late posting this, but it's full of easy, creative ideas for how you can encourage an early love of reading in your child during the month of December. Thanks to the wonderful folks in the Youth Services Department of the West Chicago Public Library for sharing this calendar with us each month.

Photo by catd_mitchell on Flickr.

Dec. 7: Make a list of all the words you can think of that relate to December.

Dec. 8: Sing a song together like "Frosty the Snowman."

Dec. 9: Let your child turn the pages as you read a holiday story together.

Dec. 10: Pick a subject that interests your child and "write" a story about it.

Dec. 11: Practice writing your child's name in various ways on paper with paint or pretzels.

Dec. 12: While running errands, point and read street signs to your child.

Dec. 13: Visit the library together today.

Dec. 14: Count how many steps you take around the house today.

Dec. 15: Play "I Spy" -- How many triangles can you see today?

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