Just some things to know

As a dad you may be asking yourself, what can I really do?  So much of a child's language is given to them in a social context, and with regards to growing their vocabulary, it starts with an abundance of experience and the chance to learn with that experience.  That is where you come into play, you offer your child or children that chance for a one on one or small group learning experience that is not afforded them in school, and often the case with dad. 
Take your profession for a brief minute, does it require that you interact with lots of people or that you understand how to solve a problem within a set amount of time.  This is what you bring to their growth of language.  We take for granted that learning to talk just happens and if you really tried to look back at your own journey in language you would be lost as to how it started, but you could find that there are always situations in which having had a path before you would have meant a different outcome. 
At times this is presented to us and we have overlooked it and thought nothing of it, until now.  I enjoy taking the children to the grocery store, this is the time to really put some language and reading skills to use.  Give them a list of a few things that they need to be on the look out for and along the way give them cues to look for or ask them questions about were in the store might the thing be located.  This will prompt their brains to search and start asking about everything in the store until they have located the item.  You get the chance to teach them ENVIRONMENTAL PRINT, everyday things that they encounter from logos to letters and shapes.  I like to explain to them why they can have yogurt but not candy so they can ask why and I can try and explain ingredients.  The store also helps use work on their PHONOLOGICAL MEMORY or their ability to remember what the heard for a brief period of time. 
Store time is somet5hing every family has more then they care to acknowledge but it is the one time that offers itself for dad to show that little one that they love to spend time with them and that they want to teach them some cool and interesting things.  I also want to say that you will see that your children will start to turn to people in line and tell them what they have learned or they will tell them that they know something about the store or the item on the checkout stand, this is always that moment you feel great and know that you made the most out of a time that use to be a get in and get out moment.

I end tonight with one of my favorite books that my children got from their Nana, All the World by Liz garton scanlon.  This book is so wonderfully put together that I don't no where to begin.  It has bold letters and a flow of sounds that is so rewarding as a reader to young children.  The ability it gives me to get them to pronounce words back and to keep their interest into the book is fabulous, and the art work, well that is beautiful, every page is full of color and detail as if I remember being at those places on my own travels.  This book is a must have for any child's book shelf and will be the one you will see offers a world of education for dad and his little ones.  Find this book at http://www.kids.simonandschuster.com/   So until next time, show them you are bigger then life