How does playing lead to better reading skills?

Why is play so crucial when learning to READ?

1. Play involves activity, repetition, and creativity

2. Play boosts awareness of the language's phonetic system.

3. Play supports understanding and meaning of words and sounds

4. Play can foster a positive attitude towards reading

The importance of play in children's reading education

Play involves active participation, repetition, and creativity, which are key elements in building connections between sounds, words, and meaning. A recent Icelandic study emphasizes the importance of play as an active part of children's reading education. It suggests that children in preschools and primary schools develop language through play in a secure environment where they learn to ask questions, narrate stories, and build storylines – skills that are the foundation of literacy. Educational Authority: 2024 Handbook on Children's Play in Preschools.

Types of games

Through play, children gain experience with the phonetics and rhythm of the language. Rhyming games, songs, and word games enhance awareness of sounds and spelling, which are essential for later linking letters to sounds. This type of play has been associated with improved performance in the early stages of reading education.

Role-playing games

Play also supports understanding and meaning in the language. In role-playing games, children use words and sentences in context, try out new vocabulary, and practice storytelling skills. When children use writing and reading as part of play – for example, sitting down with grandma to write a shopping list – they see that reading has a real purpose. This way, reading becomes an integrated part of social interaction and daily experiences instead of a separate learning subject.

The role of parents

Parents play a key role in creating a positive attitude towards reading. They can do this by regularly READING to their child and making shared reading a cozy moment together rather than a chore. Reading can also be turned into a game – for example, with word games in the car, finding letters on signs, or creating stories together. A little praise and recognition for the child's reading attempts boost their confidence and encourage them further. When reading is presented as an enjoyable and creative experience, rather than a task to complete, the child develops a positive attitude that can last a lifetime.