Did you know that children who start reading early do better academically and develop a lifelong love for learning? In Singapore, most kids start reading on their own by the age of 5¹. 

Teaching reading to preschoolers is a crucial part of their learning journey. Early reading enhances a child’s cognitive development and strengthens their imagination and creativity. It gives them the foundation skills for future academic success and a love for learning.

This blog post provides parents with practical strategies and tips for teaching their preschool children to read. We also share how NTUC First Campus preschools teach reading. By incorporating these methods into your daily routine, you can create a fun and enriching learning environment that will set the stage for your child’s reading success. 

Reading literacy is the ability to understand, use and reflect on written text. It includes:

• Phonemic Awareness: Recognising and manipulating individual sounds (phonemes) in spoken words
• Phonics Instruction: Understanding the relationship between letters and sounds to decode words effectively
• Vocabulary: Using a range of words to communicate effectively
• Comprehension: Understanding what the text means

Reading literacy develops through various stages during early childhood, with each stage building a foundation for future reading and comprehension skills.

Ages 0-2 Years:
Infants start their literacy journey by recognising and responding to familiar voices and sounds. This early stage is characterised by babbling, which gradually becomes simple words like “mama” and “dada.” Infants enjoy listening to stories and looking at pictures in books, which helps develop their listening skills. They may also start turning pages in picture books.

Ages 2-4 Years:
At this stage, children start to recognise and name some letters of the alphabet. They begin to understand that printed words have specific meanings and can be read aloud. Their vocabulary rapidly expands, and they start using more complex sentences. Children at this age enjoy playing with sounds and rhyming words, which helps develop their phonemic awareness. They can also begin to predict what will happen next in a story based on pictures and context, and they start asking and answering questions about the stories they hear.

Ages 4-6 Years:
Children start to recognise common sight words such as “the,” “and,” and “is.” They start to use phonics to sound out simple words and understand the relationship between letters and sounds. At this stage, children begin to read simple sentences and short books with repetitive text and familiar words. Their comprehension increases as they retell stories, describe characters, and discuss events. Children also start to write their own names and other simple words.

It is important to remember that children develop at their own pace, and parents and educators should be patient and supportive throughout this learning process. Each child’s journey to reading literacy is unique, and recognising these milestones can help provide the proper support at the right time.

A literacy-rich environment at home can help your child develop a love for reading. Have a variety of books around the house, including picture books, storybooks, and even alphabet books (see Recommended Books). Make sure that these books are within your child’s reach so they can grab them and explore. Also, read labels, signs, and bedtime stories as part of your daily routines. This will help them see reading as a standard and fun part of life.

Book Awareness
Book awareness involves understanding how books work, including turning pages one at a time and recognizing parts like the cover, title, author, and illustrator. Emphasise key terms like “page,” “title,” “author,” and “back of the book” when teaching children.

Phonemic Awareness
Phonemic awareness is crucial for early reading success. Engage your child in activities that develop this skill, such as rhyming games and clapping out syllables. These fun and interactive exercises will help children recognise and manipulate the sounds in words, building a strong foundation for reading.

Letter Recognition
Teaching letter recognition can be fun with alphabet games, flashcards, and letter-themed crafts.  These activities help them identify and remember the shapes and sounds of different letters, the first step in learning to read. Emphasise the importance of teaching letter sounds to help children decode words effectively.

Sight Words
Sight words are common words that children learn to recognise without sounding them out. Use flashcards to teach these words. Practising sight words regularly helps children read more fluently and with greater confidence.

Interactive Reading
Interactive reading is a great way to make reading more fun for your child. During story time, ask questions about the story, use different voices for characters and ask your child to predict what will happen next. This interactive approach will not only make reading fun but also improve comprehension and critical thinking. Incorporate word games to engage your child’s skills and make learning to read enjoyable.

Storyline Awareness
To develop storyline awareness, ask children questions about what happened at the beginning, middle, and end of the story. This helps them understand that stories follow a three-part structure.

Word Games
Make reading sessions interactive and fun by playing word games. Introduce simple word games at home or in the car that encourage your child to listen, identify, and manipulate sounds in words. (See Word Games for Preschoolers)

Research has shown that students who read for fun have better reading skills and are more likely to develop lifelong reading habits that improve language skills and fluency.² A study of children in 35 countries found that the more children read for pleasure, the higher their reading literacy scores and better comprehension, vocabulary, grammar and spelling.²

Here are some tips on how to make reading enjoyable:

Model Reading
Children learn by example, so make sure you model reading behaviour. Show your child you love reading by setting aside time to read your own books, newspapers or magazines. Share your favourite books with your child and talk about what you love about them. This shows your child that reading is important and fun.

Make it Fun
Create a reading nook and make reading a cosy experience for your child. Use props or puppets to bring stories to life and make reading sessions interactive and fun. Incorporate reading into playtime by acting out stories or using different voices for different characters.

Celebrate Progress
Celebrate your child’s reading milestones to keep them motivated. Praise them, reward them with stickers or a treat or create a reading chart to track their progress. Recognising and celebrating their achievements helps build their confidence and attitude to reading.

Addressing Reluctance
If your child is reluctant to read, try finding books on topics they love, such as dinosaurs, space, or fairy tales. Use interactive books with flaps, textures, or sound effects to make reading more fun. Let them choose their own books to give them a sense of independence and interest.

Dealing with Frustration
Reading sessions should be fun and stress-free. If your child gets frustrated, take a break and come back to reading later. Choose books at their reading level to avoid overwhelming them. Praise and support them and remind them it’s okay to make mistakes. The goal is to create a safe space for them to feel comfortable and want to learn.

A child’s preschool plays a significant role in teaching reading and supporting literacy development through an effective reading curriculum. Preschool teachers are responsible for teaching phonological awareness, phonics, and other essential reading skills through structured and systematic approaches.

My First Skool adopts a comprehensive approach to teaching literacy, integrating various strategies and programmes to ensure children develop strong reading and language skills from an early age. Here are some key methods:

Interactive Reading Sessions
Teachers use interactive methods during storytime, such as using puppets and dramatic expressions, to make the characters and narratives more engaging for children. This not only enhances their enjoyment but also improves comprehension and retention of the material​.

Phonics and Phonemic Awareness
My First Skool focuses on building children’s phonics and phonemic awareness through fun activities like rhyming games and clapping out syllables throughout their early years. These activities help children understand the relationship between sounds and letters, which is crucial for reading development. Additionally, systematic instruction in phonics skills is provided to help children decode words and improve reading fluency.

Parental Involvement
My First Skool encourages parental involvement in their child’s literacy journey. Parents are provided with resources and tips on how to support reading at home, ensuring a consistent and supportive learning environment. 

Read-to-REACH
In addition, the Read-to-REACH programme offers small-group language and literacy intervention for K1 children. This programme focuses on teaching letter recognition, phonological and phonemic awareness, sight vocabulary and story comprehension. By providing these targeted interventions, NTUC First Campus ensures each child gets the support they need to excel in literacy development.

Little Skool-House focuses on a bilingual approach to literacy, ensuring that children develop strong language skills in both English and their mother tongue. Here are some key literacy teaching strategies:

Bilingual Literacy Programmes
LSH’s bilingual curriculum, developed through extensive clinical research and implemented by award-winning educators, includes various language and literacy activities tailored for children aged 4 to 6. This approach emphasises interactive learning and consistent exposure to both languages. This approach helps children become proficient in both languages, enhancing their overall cognitive development and cultural understanding​.

Holistic Curriculum
The curriculum at Little Skool-House is designed to be holistic, incorporating language and literacy activities into various aspects of learning. This includes storytelling, role-playing, and thematic projects that promote literacy in a contextual and engaging manner.

Teacher Expertise
Teachers at Little Skool-House are trained to use evidence-based literacy strategies and are continuously provided with professional development opportunities to enhance their teaching practices. This ensures that they are equipped to support their students’ diverse learning needs.

Interactive and Engaging Activities
Similar to My First Skool, Little Skool-House uses interactive reading sessions, phonics games, and vocabulary-building activities. These methods are designed to make learning fun and effective, fostering a love for reading and writing among children.

Assessment and Support
Regular assessments are conducted to monitor each child’s literacy progress. Based on these assessments, additional support is provided to children who need it, ensuring that every child can achieve their literacy milestones.

A study showed that 93% of Little Skool-House’s K2 students became highly proficient in both English and Mandarin due to a comprehensive bilingual curriculum.³

By implementing these comprehensive and engaging strategies, both My First Skool and Little Skool-House ensure that children develop strong literacy skills that form the foundation for lifelong learning and academic success.

Students in Singapore have historically demonstrated a high proficiency and confidence in reading, scoring well in international studies. However, there has been a notable decline in their enjoyment of reading over the years. The percentage of students who reported “enjoying reading a lot” dropped to 51% in 2021, the lowest in a decade, compared to 55% in 2016 and 60% in 2011. Similarly, the proportion of parents who reported their children “enjoying reading a lot” fell to 48% in 2021 from 53% in 2016 and 60% in 2011.^{4 5} Studies have also reported that Singapore students say they read primarily for academic reasons and not for love or leisure.¹

This trend is not exclusive to Singapore. The decrease in reading enjoyment may be partly attributed to the rapid rise of alternative entertainment and digital content formats, such as YouTube or social media, over the past decade.

To overcome this trend, parents must aim to instil a love of reading in their children at a young age. 

In short, early reading skills for preschoolers are key to their cognitive development and academic success. Start with simple activities that build phonemic awareness, letter recognition, and interactive reading, and you will be setting your child up for a lifetime of literacy. Create a literacy-rich environment at home and make reading a part of your daily routines, and reading becomes a natural and fun part of life.

As parents and educators, we play an important role in making reading fun, engaging and rewarding. By celebrating reading milestones and addressing challenges with patience and creativity, we must inspire children at the preschool stage to develop a lifelong love for reading, and not just reading for academic purposes. This approach will ensure our children grow up confident, competent and enthusiastic readers ready to take on the joys and challenges of learning.

To learn more about our preschools and how we support your child’s reading literacy, find a preschool near you and register for an open house. Visit My First Skool and Little Skool-House’s websites to learn more about the reading curriculum at our NTUC First Campus preschools. 

1. “Goodnight Moon” by Margaret Wise Brown
   • A classic bedtime story with soothing rhymes and illustrations.
2. “Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?” by Bill Martin Jr.
   • A repetitive and rhythmic book that helps with word recognition.
3. “Where’s Spot?” by Eric Hill
   • An interactive lift-the-flap book that engages infants and toddlers.
4. “Dear Zoo” by Rod Campbell
   • A simple and engaging lift-the-flap book about zoo animals.
5. “The Very Hungry Caterpillar” by Eric Carle
   • A colourful story that introduces counting and the days of the week.

1. “Chicka Chicka Boom Boom” by Bill Martin Jr. and John Archambault
   • A fun and rhythmic alphabet book.
2. “Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes” by Eric Litwin
   • A story that encourages colour recognition and positive thinking.
3. “We’re Going on a Bear Hunt” by Michael Rosen
   • An adventurous and repetitive story that is fun to read aloud.
4. “Llama Llama Red Pajama” by Anna Dewdney
   • A rhyming book that deals with bedtime anxiety.
5. “If You Give a Mouse a Cookie” by Laura Numeroff
   • A humorous book that introduces cause and effect.

1. Alphabet Scavenger Hunt:
   • Description: Hide objects or flashcards with letters around the room or yard. Have the children find the items and identify the letters.
   • Skills Developed: Letter recognition, vocabulary building, and phonics.
2. Rhyming Pairs:
   • Description: Create cards with pictures of objects that rhyme (e.g., cat and hat, dog and frog). Mix them up and have children find and match the rhyming pairs.
   • Skills Developed: Phonemic awareness and vocabulary.
3. Sound Bingo:
   • Description: Create bingo cards with pictures and call out the beginning sounds (e.g., b for ball). Children place markers on the corresponding pictures.
   • Skills Developed: Phonemic awareness, sound recognition, and listening skills.
4. Word Building with Blocks:
   • Description: Use letter blocks to build simple words. Start with three-letter words like “cat,” “dog,” or “sun.” Encourage children to spell and read the words.
   • Skills Developed: Letter recognition, phonics, and spelling.
5. Story Stones:
   • Description: Create or buy stones with pictures or words on them. Children can pick stones and create a story based on the images or words they choose.
   • Skills Developed: Vocabulary, creativity, and storytelling.
6. Alphabet Fishing:
   • Description: Create a fishing pond with paper fish that have letters on them. Children use a fishing rod with a magnet to “catch” a fish and then identify the letter.
   • Skills Developed: Letter recognition and hand-eye coordination.
7. Silly Sentences:
   • Description: Write simple nouns, verbs, and adjectives on separate cards. Children draw one card from each category and create silly sentences.
   • Skills Developed: Sentence structure, vocabulary, and creativity.
8. Picture Word Match:
   • Description: Provide children with a set of pictures and corresponding word cards. Have them match the pictures to the correct words.
   • Skills Developed: Vocabulary building, word recognition, and matching skills.
9. Memory Game:
   • Description: Create a set of cards with matching pairs of words or pictures. Place them face down, and children take turns flipping two cards at a time to find matches.
   • Skills Developed: Memory, vocabulary, and matching skills.
10. I Spy with Letters:
    • Description: Play a game of “I Spy,” focusing on letters and sounds. For example, “I spy something that starts with the letter ‘B’.”
    • Skills Developed: Letter recognition, phonemic awareness, and vocabulary.

These games make learning fun and interactive, helping preschoolers develop essential language skills in an engaging way.

1. Why do children in Singapore read? An exploratory study. Malaysian Journal of Library & Information Science. 2013 ↩︎
2. Understanding the Reading Habits of Children in Singapore. Journal of Educational Media and Library Science. December 2007 ↩︎
3. Little Skool-House curriculum builds a strong bilingual language foundation that helps 93% of their students achieve High Proficiency in both English and Mandarin. Little Skool-House. 2018 ↩︎
4. Strong Performance by Singapore Students in Reading Literacy Despite COVID-19 Pandemic: International Study. Ministry of Education. May 2023 ↩︎
5. Singapore students top global rankings for reading, but fewer enjoy it. Yahoo. May 2023 ↩︎