First words: which ones are worth teaching first
Not the alphabet, and not colours. The words that come easiest are the ones a toddler can point at and actually wants.
3 min read
Talking, letters and first writing
Early reading has an order, and starting in the wrong place makes everything slower rather than faster. These four go in the sequence a child meets them.
When should my child start learning letters?
There is no single right age. What comes first, how to tell they are ready, and the point at which a delay is worth raising with a teacher.
6 min read
Letter sounds or letter names: which comes first?
The sound is what a child reads with. But the research on names is not one-sided, and the answer at home is simpler than the argument.
7 min read
When to start letter tracing, and how to help
Handwriting needs a strong hand before it needs a pencil. What comes first, when tracing helps, and what to stop worrying about.
3 min read