Literacy On the Go
By Kelly Patten
I grew up in a rural area of New Jersey, USA, and perhaps because of my quiet, quaint upbringing, I have craved city living ever since. There’s a certain charm to the vibrant chaos that you can’t find anywhere else. I love our corner motosai drivers who help us cross Sukhumvit, the family of cats that seem to be fed by everybody who crosses their path, and the cheerful old man who sells breakfast and helps my daughter practice her wai on our walk to school. That being said, there's an aspect of Bangkok that I think we all universally despise—the traffic. While the poor urban planning might add to the charm of cozy, dead-end sois, the congested gridlock of Sukhumvit can make a ten-minute journey take an hour. Add a toddler or two to the mix and it can be a rough ride.
Recently, we made the poor choice to taxi home from Central World in the rain on a Saturday afternoon. Did we eventually put on “Peppa Pig” to keep the girls happy? Yes, we definitely did. There is absolutely no shame in using screens to keep the peace in bumper to bumper traffic. But it's also valuable to have some quick, practical ideas in your back pocket. One of the easiest games to play is I-Spy. You can tailor it to any variety of ages, locations, and skillsets. Stuck in traffic with a two- or three-year-old? I spy something green! Sitting in the Samitivej waiting room for ages with a four- or five-year-old? I spy something that starts with the /d/ sound! Consider also incorporating rhyming words. I spy something that rhymes with bee! Is it a knee? Is it a key? No, it's a tree!
Another great activity for children from about three years old is to go on a sign hunt in search of environmental print. Environmental print is the printed words we see in everyday life. These are often logos or signs that are very familiar to children, such as the McDonald’s logo, a LEGO label, or the ubiquitous 7-Eleven sign. Children might not be able to read the words yet, but they begin to make connections with letters and symbols having sounds and meaning. This is one of the main building blocks of early literacy development. As children develop letter recognition skills, you can take it a step further. I am searching for a sign that has the letter /m/. I am searching for a sign that starts with the letter /s/. Not only does your child get literacy practice, but they can begin to develop deeper observations of their local community.
One of my daughter’s favorite car games is interactive storytelling. Creating ongoing stories fosters a love for creativity and also helps develop comprehension and vocabulary. We love to practice sequence words and pretend to cook or bake in taxis. First, let's crack the eggs. Next, let's mix in the flour, sugar, and milk. Then we stir it all up. Finally we pour the batter into a pan and flip our pancakes! My daughter loves to add funny details and sound effects to each story. Another one of her favorites is “Spooky 7-Eleven”. We pretend we’re going shopping in a haunted 7-Eleven and take turns describing the weird things we see and buy. I have no idea how this strange story game developed, but it has become an essential part of our car journeys!
Creating opportunities for exploring and playing with letters, sounds, and words does not have to be hard work. Take advantage of your local environment and turn basic everyday tasks into simple literacy games that are engaging for everyone, parents included!
About the Author
Kelly is mom to Freya and Daisy and recently went back to work as an early years teacher. She previously worked as a primary educator and literacy specialist. Kelly loves reading fiction books, listening to true crime podcasts, and watching Disney princess movies.