Sing & Rhyme to Help Your Child Get Ready to Learn to Read!

There are lots of great books about this time of year to share with your child. One favorite is How Do Dinosaurs Say Merry Christmas? by Jane Yolen.  It rhymes and invites participation and discussion. Rhyming, singing, talking, and helping to tell the story all help your child learn important early literacy skills to get ready to learn to read! Print the dinosaur--or find another online. Help your child decorate and color the dinosaur. Tape a straw or stick on the back to make a dinosaur puppet and then sing some songs together. Sing lots of songs during this time of year (and all year long!) Songs help your child hear the smaller sounds in words because each syllable usually has its own note. So have fun rhyming and singing! You are helping your child get ready to learn to read!

DINOSAUR, DINOSAUR, DINOSAUR

(Sing to the tune of Jingle Bells)

Dinosaur, Dinosaur, Dinosaur hop

Dinosaur, Dinosaur, Dinosaur stop.

Dinosaur, Dinosaur, Dinosaur run.

Dinosaur, Dinosaur, Dinosaur, let's have holiday fun!

Dinosaur, Dinosaur, Dinosaur, roar

Dinosaur, Dinosaur, Dinosaur, roar more.

Dinosaur, Dinosaur, Dinosaur, shh, don't make a peep.

Dinosaur, Dinosaur, Dinosaur, time to go to sleep.

Dinosaur Song

(Sing to the tune of "Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear")

Dinosaur,dinosaur, turn around.
Dinosaur, dinosaur, touch the ground.
Dinosaur, dinosaur, shut the door.
Dinosaur, dinosaur, jump and roar.
Dinosaur, dinosaur, touch your shoe.
Dinosaur, dinosaur, stomp in goo.
Dinosaur, dinosaur, turn off the light.
Dinosaur, dinosaur, say "Good night."