Reading is seen as one of the most crucial aspects of education for many parents with young children. But most words tend to be unfamiliar to early readers in print, even if they could have spoken knowledge of the word. This is where phonics classes come in handy to equip your child with the skills needed to decode letters into their respective sounds, an essential aspect of learning how to read, write and spell. But are there other benefits to learning phonics? I Love Learning is an established tuition centre in Singapore, and this article will further cover the benefits phonics education brings, and how it can lay the foundation for the success of your child.
Develop better communication skills
Research has shown that children who can communicate well and confidently not only achieve better results academically, but are also more likely to succeed later in life. Exposure to phonics in a child’s early years plays an integral role in building up their library of phonemes, which improves their ability to recognise different rhymes, alliteration and more. This supports their verbal communication skills and paves the way for creative expression with the English language.
Knowledge of syllable structure
A child who has been through phonics classes will find themselves more familiar with syllable structure. For example, recognising that a closed syllable will end in a consonant and have a short vowel, while an open syllable will end in a vowel that makes a long sound. Such English language structures become clearer and easier to understand through phonics education.
Reading and writing well is a transferable skill
Many subjects across a child’s formal education will require a good standard of literacy. Equipping young learners with the skills to read and write well provides them with the potential to excel in many other areas. Subjects like Maths and Science for instance, will involve the understanding of relevant vocabulary. This is how phonics can give your child a head start in understanding subject-specific language.
Provides a workout for your child’s brain
Development of a child’s brain is vital during their early years. Phonics and learning to read serves as an avenue for the formation of new neural pathways in the brain, providing a great way to flex their mental skills. Mental capabilities such as problem-solving, pattern recognition and reasoning are also enhanced in the process.
Confidence to navigate the world
With the right learning environment, phonics classes encourage a love of reading by equipping your child with early-literacy strategies needed to develop independence and prepare for their schooling years. These abilities endow young children with the speaking and literacy skills needed to give them the best start and navigate the world with confidence.
Phonics classes have grown in importance over recent years as a great teaching method that helps simplify the English language for young children. It is a system that can be incorporated into a well-rounded reading program, encouraging young learners to recognise whole words by sight, creating opportunities for extensive reading and creative writing.
At I Love Learning, our aim is to guide every child in reaching their fullest potential and foster a life-long love of learning. Speak with our team to find out more today!