Your child is always seeking new and exciting learning experiences. However, none of them will bring more pride and pleasure than learning to read. Most children approach this task with enormous enthusiasm. They are eager to join the "grown-up" world of readers. Perhaps you are wondering what specific skills 4 to 6 year olds need before they can learn to read. How can you help your child acquire these skills?

This booklet is a guide to "Help Your Child Get Ready to Read." It covers such basic reading readiness skills as eye-hand coordination, listening, observing, speaking well, reorganizing letters and words, and putting sentences together. Each skill is presented simply with gamelike activities that invite repeated practice. This is by no means a complete course on reading readiness. It is a handbook for you to thumb through informally, choosing activities to enjoy with your child.

As you work with your child, keep in mind that he or she is unique. Don't expect your child to "keep up with" playmates who may be learning certain skills faster. Some tasks will come easily for your child -- but others may take more time. Don't worry if your child has trouble with some of the activities in this booklet. They aren't tests. They're just ways for you and your child to share the excitement of getting ready to read.