Our monthly reading guides help enhance your Ranger Rick Jr. subscription by recommending ways you can use the magazine to encourage a strong foundation for your child’s literacy development.
This issue of Ranger Rick Jr. gives a great welcome to the new season of winter that is now upon us. During these cold months, children will have a lot of questions regarding the change in weather. There are many ways to answer these questions while also integrating literacy into your child’s life. Focusing on Ricky and Pals in “The Lucky Rock” will help get your child excited about all the special and fun things we can do throughout the winter.
Some great concepts to talk about with your children are:
How water freezes to make ice. In this story, the animals are able to slide around on the ice and play. Children might be interested in the concept of ice and water. Talk to your child about what he/she thinks ice is made of and how it is made. Let them talk about their predictions. Then, you and your child can experiment this concept, hands-on, by filling a cup with water and putting it in the freezer. Make sure to talk about how the water changed from liquid to solid, and how it feels differently now.
Snow! An exciting event that happens during the winter. Children can really benefit from knowing more about it. Read books with your child such as, The Story of Snow: The Science of Winter’s Wonder by Mark Cassino. Plus, you can talk with your children about the fun activities that we can do in the snow, such as making snowmen, snow angels, and even writing letters in the snow. Instant snow powder is available in stores if there is rarely snow in your area.
How to keep ourselves safe when it’s cold outside. Aside from slipping on ice, there are some dangers that the cold weather brings to our bodies. Children need special clothing to keep them warm and avoid getting sick. Each piece of clothing can be a new vocabulary word for children. Talking about each one will make the child excited to wear it, as some children often fight wearing hats, scarves, and gloves because they are not used to it. You can read books with your child about staying warm such as, The Jacket I Wear in the Snow by Shirley Neitzel.
To help your child’s memory and recall skills, you can talk about what Ricky and Pals did in the story. Invite your child to ask questions and explore whatever interests him/her!
Prepared by Ellie Tunison
Prekindergarten Reading Encouragement Project (PREP) Intern
Early Childhood Education Major, University of Delaware
PREP – Helping childhood literacy one family at a time.