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Parents Spent: Much of what has been said elsewhere in this book also applies to the under-fives. But there are differences, a crucial one being that much time is spent by parents reading to their children. Most parents will have experienced their child's enjoyment and their own frustration at reading Goldilocks and the Three Bears for the sixteenth time in succession, and it is not always easy for parents to appreciate how much children will gain from this. Nor do they necessarily recognize that learning to read is not just about decoding symbols on a page.
Encourage parents to comment, of course, but don't forget that some people have difficulty in committing themselves to the written word, and a few parents will be unable to write, or write in English, at all. So it should be made clear that if only the number of pages read, or the length of time spent, is recorded, that in itself is a comment, and a helpful one. Where you know that parents are able to write, but seem to need encouragement to commit themselves to paper, try asking a direct question on the card: 'I think there has been an improvement in the last two weeks - what do you think?' and let the child know what you lave written, saying how interested you will be in the answer. Mways, of course, tell the child what you have written where 'ou believe the parent cannot read, or cannot read English.
One good example of using public places was the campaign launched by the Ladywood Early Language Project team, led by Joy Workman. The team wanted to publicize the notion diat young children's language could be enriched if parents spent more time talking to them. To do this they gave out badges inscribed with the slogan 'Mum, talk to me . . .' to all the customers of a well-known supermarket, and had a display inside the store. The response from parents was enormous and gave the project team a number of good starting-points for further work widi parents. Stores have also accepted displays of children's work from schools, and if asked may be persuaded to do even more; after all, why should a store turn down an idea which keeps shoppers on its premises a little longer to be parted from their money?
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