Nursery rhymes are fun to chant, but did you know that as you're rhyming and clapping out these words with your baby, you are setting the foundation for reading readiness? Phonemic Awareness, the ability to hear isolated sounds, or "Phonemes" within words, is the number one predictor to becoming a good reader. 

When you are singing, clapping, and chanting silly songs, your little one is getting a powerful introduction to language and reading that will set a foundation for kindergarten. So get ready, set, and have some fun with words! 

Here are a few activities to get you started.

• Clap out syllables in words while saying them slowly.
• Chant nursery rhymes while tapping or clapping to the beat.
• Sings songs like "Willaby Wallaby."
• While driving in the car, play "I spy."  Ex. "I spy something that rhymes with bee,  tree!"
• Read alphabet books with different themes.
• Make your own alphabet book by making pictures that represent letters, or a rhyming book.
• Act out nursery rhymes using simple props. Create a theme box of your child's favorite rhymes.  

 You will be spending valuable learning time with your child while having fun too! 

---