Play "Old Ugly" Again

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"Old Ugly" is the tale of a mean, mean old woman who, as it turns out, isn't nearly as mean as you might think. It's a children's home-grown, unpublished narrative by Northwest writer and journalist Mike Robinson. His kids will surely never forget this gripping tale; not only did he tell them this story along with many others, he tape-recorded them all so his children could listen anytime they wanted.

Tape-recording a child's favorite stories is a great way for parents and caregivers to help preschoolers and older kids to develop their language skills. Good language skills are instrumental in helping a child to do well in school, and taping stories is one way to help foster that development.

And there's an added benefit: So many parents are in a time-bind these days, taping stories the child plays later on serves as a loving and personalized learning tool when parents and caregivers must be busy with other necessary tasks.

You needn't have the reading ability of a Shakespearean actor to produce a tape with which your child is enchanted. Best-loved stories play quite well when read by voices known to the child.

In fact, you can increase the fun quotient while building language skills by having your child help with the "reading" of the story on tape. The story might be told in the child's own words, or the child's version of what the words on the pages are saying, or it might be a joint effort with each of you reading and talking during the story. Tape recording silly rhymes and songs is also fun, and enjoyable later when the child plays it back. Or you or your child might want to make up your own songs and stories, taping them as you go. Using the child's name in the song or story is very engaging for a child.

If you're taping together, be prepared with ways to help get the child talking. While smiling and nodding encourages children, remember to also give them plenty of time to process information and give their own response. For example, when reading and taping a story together, you might provide prompts, comments, or questions regarding the story, something like: Tell me what you like about Billy's house. Billy's house has a blue kitchen. Is your house like Billy's?

Even though the three children of the author of "Old Ugly" are now in junior high, high school, and college, Mike still keeps a tape player with a tape of one of his child-favorite stories ready to play—this one called "The Big Toe"—just in case, he emphasizes, a three-year-old stops by.

This column is provided as a public service by the Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory, a nonprofit institution, 101 S.W. Main Street, Suite 500, Portland, Oregon 97204.