Hands-on fun is better for learning

I HAVE a four-year-old son who will be starting kindergarten next year. I have been teaching him the alphabet and numbers. He is very playful, especially when it comes to reading the alphabet and numbers. He prefers to play with his toys. Is this normal? How do I instil interest in learning the numbers and alphabet? What would be expected of a four-year-old before he starts kindergarten, in terms of learning abilities? – Concerned Mother

School readiness is more than just learning the alphabet and rote counting the numbers. Your child needs an understanding of the meaning of print before he starts learning the alphabet.

Your four-year-old must have the following reading readiness skills. They are speaking and listening skills, auditory and visual discrimination, perceptual motor skills, experiential background and interest.

Instead of teaching him to read, draw his attention to print in books when you read storybooks to him. Avoid spoiling the flow of the story or the magical moments by saying: “Look! Here is the capital letter.”