Acknowledgements - gapitc

The Message Center
When you receive a phone call, model how you sometimes write down a message
using a pad and pen.
Say to your child, for example, “I need to write down what Granddaddy told me
he needs from the store.”
Give your child a toy telephone or recycled cell phone and a notepad with a
washable marker.
Invite your child to play pretend phone with you.
Say into the phone, “I’m sorry, Daddy is not here now. Can I take a message?”
Pretend to write something on the message pad using the marker.
Invite your child to have a turn to answer the pretend “ring” of the phone and to
“write a message” with the marker on the pad.
Write My Name for Me
There are many times throughout the day that you may write your child’s name,
such as completing a health form, labeling her school bag, or writing a note to
the teacher.
Every child’s name is special to them and they usually enjoy seeing their name
in print.
When you write your child’s name, point out that you are writing her name.
Say, “I am writing ‘Carly.’” When finished, point to the word and say, “This
says ‘Carly.’”
Write your child’s name on her pictures if she asks you to.
Encourage her to look for her name written on her cubby, cot, and paintings
from school.
As your child practices scribbling marks on paper, she may say that she is “writing
her name!”
Pictures Tell a Story
Keep at least two samples of your child’s scribbling from either home or school.
Display both samples on the refrigerator or wall at his eye level.
Ask him excitedly about the first sample, “Tell me about this.”
Your child may say that his drawing is a picture of something.
He may also point to his circular and line markings and say, “This says,
‘For Mommy’.”
These comments let you know that your child is learning to connect
symbols with meaning.
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