ABLE Featured Articles
Reading Pen
Does Your Child Use the Reading Pen Like a DJ? 3 Tips to Turn "Clicking" into "Speaking"
Article Content
Did you buy a reading pen, only to find your child using it like a DJ? Are they just repeatedly pressing the buttons that make funny sound effects, but rarely opening their mouths to speak?
Many parents share this frustration: their children love playing with the reading pen, but they seem unable to apply the words or sentences they hear to their daily lives. The truth is, a reading pen is just a tool. To truly bring that knowledge to life, the key lies in parental interaction and guidance.
Here are three simple yet fun home activities to help you bridge the gap between "the language in the pen" and "real-life conversation."
1. Treasure Hunt
This game helps children connect the 2D images in the book with 3D physical objects in the real world.
How to Play:
Hide the "Treasure": First, hide real objects or toys that appear in the book (e.g., an apple, a toy car, a teddy bear) in different corners of the house.
Start the Hunt: Have your child take the book or the reading pen and go search for these hidden items.
Speak Up: When your child finds an item, guide them to use the sentence pattern: "I found (item)." (e.g., I found the apple!)
Match it Back: Finally, bring the object back to the book, use the reading pen to tap the corresponding image again, and complete the pairing.
2. Parent Story Time
Don't just read the text verbatim—try creating your own adventure! This method trains children’s listening skills and reaction time.
How to Play:
Set the Scene: Create a simple theme or story based on the settings or objects in the book.
Fill in the Blanks: While telling the story, intentionally "pause" at key words and let your child use the reading pen to tap the picture in the book to "fill in" the missing part.
Example:
Parent: "Alice and Mum went to the supermarket today to buy ingredients for a yogurt fruit cup. As they were walking, they saw a big, juicy..." (Pause, pointing generally at the fruit section in the book)
Child: (Taps the picture with the pen, and the pen says: Apple)
Parent: "That's right! It was a big Apple!"
3. "What Am I?" Guessing Game
This is a slightly more advanced game suitable for older children or those with a larger vocabulary. It trains their ability to associate features with objects and improves listening comprehension.
How to Play:
Describe Features: Look at a page in the book and choose an item, but don't say its name. Describe its features, functions, or appearance using simple English (or your native language).
Find the Answer: The child has to listen to the clues, find the correct image on the page, and tap it.
Example:
Parent: "This is a mode of transportation. It is fast and transports a lot of people. Sometimes, it goes inside a tunnel. What is it?"
Child: (Thinks for a moment, finds the train on the page, and taps it)
Parent: "Yes! It is a train!"
Conclusion
A reading pen shouldn't be a "solo toy" for your child; it can be a bridge for parent-child interaction. Through these simple games, you not only make reading together more fun but also effectively help your child turn "Input" into "Output," allowing English to naturally blend into their daily life
