Category:
Ciphers
Activities in this category require cooperation of both brain hemispheres. They force a child to focus on detail, exercise memory and at the same time create a complex picture of the final message. The result of symbol analysis are Latin letters, that is a text that makes sense. These exercises in an unconventional form strengthen the ability to analyze a text and to concentrate on detail. They are especially suitable for children suffering from dyslexia. They are also powerful brain training for all children.
Skills:
Memory
The activities in this section all require the ability to remember. Whether the activity requires auditory or visual memory, the child solves tasks based on what he or she has remembered from the first part of the activity. Therefore, it is necessary to divide the activities into two parts. First, reading the text or visually fixing a certain image and second, solving the task itself. Memory can also be excellently trained by many non-paper games, such as a traditional memory game or remembering strings of words, e.g. on the topic "What would I take to the island".
Visual perception
These activities aim at training eyes to find visual differences, as well as at training eyes ability to follow lines (or another set direction). To be successful the child must fix a certain image pattern in his or her memory and then he or she compares it with other images. Well-developed visual perception is the key ability influencing correct reading. If your child has a problem with tasks of this type, it is possible that he or she might have difficulty to learn read fluently in the future. This is the main reason why to do this type of exercise with children in early age. A suitable non-paper alternative to train visual perception is, for example, the game ‘Guess what has changed!’.
Reading
Reading is a skill that most of us learned in school. However, there are many curious children who learn to read on their own already at preschool age or, on the contrary, have certain problems with the acquisition of this ability. The activities in this category are intended mainly for these two groups of children and are intended to help them start to read in a playful and simple way. They should be preceded by activities developing auditory and visual perception. Comics with clear and simple texts, or texts with color-coded syllables, are also a very suitable alternative.