Understanding syllables helps children improve their reading and writing skills.  To build these skills, children need to be able to sound out longer words.  With their knowledge of syllables, and understanding that that every syllable must have a vowel sound, children can use syllables and chunking to decode big or long words.  You can teach your children these important tips that will help them tackle big and long words:

• Syllables are parts of words and each syllable has its own vowel sound.

• Breaking words into syllables or using chunks are two good ways to sound out words.

• Putting the syllables back together into a whole word is called blending.

Your early reader will soon be able to blend syllables together to sound out new words.

You can help teach your child to read when you practice with everyday words as you ride, shop, work, and play together.

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