Page 22 - teachYourChildToRead

22 Teach your child to read

Puppets don’t need to be ‘store bought’ or elaborate, they can be a sock
with two buttons sewn on for eyes. Here’s a link to a great book that
shows you how to create and operate over 35 great puppets using items
from around your house. This link also contains a video that shows you
different ways to use puppets.

TIP: When performing with your puppet, create a childlike
voice. The character will seem more real to your child if the
puppet uses words and sentences similar to those they use.

Puppets also enhance any storybook you may be reading. You don’t need
a puppet for each character, just one puppet as the main character is
sufficient to re-create the story and further enhance a good story line.

Puppets are particularly good for labelling children’s feelings and for
teaching social skills. Use a puppet to talk about a particular problem
your child may be having or to highlight any behaviour that may be an
issue. Puppets are useful for helping children think through problems
and puppets are great for helping generate solutions.

Children enjoy playing with puppets. Puppet play encourages your
child’s story telling skills and also helps children express their emotions.

Promoting physical skills

Physical skills that require simultaneous co-ordination of the hands
and feet foster brain functioning that is needed for future academic
learning. Children between the age of two and three are learning how to
independently dress and undress and how to manipulate buttons, zips
and buckles, these simple activities are ideal for promoting co-ordination
and dexterity.

Cross lateral activity (e.g. movement that requires the right arm to move
with the left leg) promotes brain development across both hemispheres
of the brain, a skill specifically required for successful reading. Physical
activities such as ball games, dancing and exercises that require body
rotation are great ways for children of this age to enhance cross lateral
development.