Reading With Children

Activities and Ideas to Enrich Young Children's Language is a parenting handbook to help enrich young children's vocabulary and language. This book has been a labor of love over time. In 1966, my Father wrote the book, Practical Ideas and Activities for Preschool Enrichment Programs, targeting early childhood educators working in the 1964 newly funded Head Start program when President Lyndon B. Johnson declared a "war on Poverty" in his state of the Union address and legislation followed. His book sold over 40,000 copies the first year. In 1997 while on sabbatical, I had a dream about my father telling me to rewrite the book for parents. When I woke up, I couldn't find the book in my large collection. As I was working at the computer drafting the introduction to what today is called Reading with Children Series, the book magically appeared in my lap. Of course, I probably had it all along, but it makes for a memorable story. The important content of the newly created ideas and activities will enhance parents, grandparents, and early childhood educators' opportunity to make memorable connections with children in their care. The purpose for the book, has been to provide enrichment ideas and activities for adults as prompts for enrichment to build a strong vocabulary base. Through these experiences parents or educators will build stronger relationships by learning together new and exciting information within the community. The book is filled with a little bit of magic for adults and children.

Reading with Children Series Teaching Alphabet Letters and Sounds with Meaning suggests fun activities to teach young children the basics in learning letters and sounds. This book is the third handbook for adults in the Reading with Children Series developed by Dr. Richardson. The series includes two more books for parents and early childhood educators. Teaching Your Child to Read Naturally a Parenting Handbook, the first book in the series, focuses on teaching children how to think about and remember the story. Activities & Ideas to Enrich Young Children's Language, the second book, suggests activities and ideas to do with children to build their vocabulary and language. These books incorporate best practices and research-based information to nurture young children’s literacy development. There are three children's books in the series perfect for reading with young children and applying reading strategies and planning interactive activities from the parent handbooks. The Teeny Tiny Tadpole, Little Lilly Ladybug, and Birds Being Birds are delightful children's books incorporating the techniques and patterns found in classical children's literature.