Infant Phonological and Phonemic Awareness

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It is no secret that I love the library and everything it has to offer. As a special education major, we spent a lot time learning how to make reading fun. During this time I developed a passion for children's literacy. There are several reasons for this not, the least of which is that literacy is one of the most important parts of a child's development. One of the best ways to begin teaching your child about reading is by reading and singing with them. I have dedicated a page on the blog to the books that we are reading with Charlie with the hope that you might find something fun to share with a little one in your life.

One way to blend reading and singing together is with nursery rhymes. Rhymes are a great way to introduce children to the ebb and flow of speech. They are also highly entertaining. I like to use the traditional Mother Goose nursery rhymes and change the names or the words to things I know will make Charlie laugh. When I am bored with nursery rhymes, we do action rhymes and fingerplays like the Itsy, Bitsy spider, Open Shut Them, and Row, Row, Row Your Boat. Another excellent time to incorporate rhymes and songs into your day is in the car. Charlie hates waiting at red lights. In fact, he wakes up as soon as the car stops. It helps to calm him down by singing little songs with repetition or rhymes in them. (His favorite at the moment is Apples and Bananas.)

I like to eat, eat, eat, eat. I like to eat apples and bananas.
I like to eat, eat, eat, eat. I like to eat apples and bananas.

I like to ate, ate, ate, ate. I like to ate aipples and banainais.
I like to ate, ate, ate, ate. I like to ate aipples and banainais.

I like to eat, eat, eat, eat. I like to eat eapples and banenes.
I like to eat, eat, eat, eat. I like to eat eapples and banenes.

I like to ite, ite, ite, ite. I like to ite ipples and baninis.
I like to ite, ite, ite, ite. I like to ite ipples and baninis.

I like to ote, ote, ote, ote. I like to ote opples and banonos.
I like to ote, ote, ote, ote. I like to ote opples and banonos.

I like to ute, ute, ute, ute. I like to ute uepples and banunus.
I like to ute, ute, ute, ute. I like to ute uepples and banunus.

I like to eat, eat, eat, eat. I like to eat apples and bananas.
I like to eat, eat, eat, eat. I like to eat apples and bananas

Here are some online resources to get you started:
6 Great Tips with Links
Phonological Awareness and Activities for Toddlers and Infants
The Importance of Rhyming
Rhyme A Week Curriculum
Baby and Infant Action Rhymes
Toddler Fingerplays and Action Rhymes
Infant Storytime - October