A Reading Blast from the Past

"Everything old is new again" ... a sentiment we know is often true. From fashion trends to the recreation of the classic Nintendo Entertainment System, people love taking a walk down memory lane, especially when it's because something that trended once before is trending now again. On the heels of the news that Teddy Ruxpins a first-of-its-kind animatronic toy that told stories through a built-in cassette player beginning in 1985 is making a comeback, we thought it would be fun for Osceola Reads to take you on its own reading blast from the past.

Source: youtube.com[/caption]Early to mid 2000sThose of us with elementary-aged kids today probably started introducing reading to our children during this time. We're familiar with computer-based programs like Reader Rabbit and JumpStart which allowed our children to interact with phonics and reading instruction at home on top of at school.

Mid to late 1990sThe kids we babysat, though, were learning to read when LeapPads and LeapFrog products hit the market. These read along with children, allowing them to interact with specific pages in books. These kids' teachers also encouraged the use of sight word flashcards, knowing they helped in immediate recognition of the most commonly used words in the English language.[caption id="attachment_3020" align="aligncenter" width="400"]

Source: www.reddit.com[/caption]1980-1990We, as children ourselves, remember when Reading Rainbow was introduced in the early '80s. It focused on keeping children engaged in reading and writing during the summer months when school was out. Record players also helped us read along to our favorite books (and who can forget that iconic Ding! that sounded when it was time to turn the page?).[caption id="attachment_3021" align="aligncenter" width="400"]

Source: www.ReadingRainbow.com[/caption]The '60s and '70sSesame Street entered into the homes of American children (and most likely the homes of our very own moms and dads) in the '60s with the focus to do something good to help children learn in a fun and entertaining way.[caption id="attachment_3022" align="aligncenter" width="400"]

Source: hbo.com[/caption]Anything before thatIf you were to ask your grandparents, they probably remember the Dick and Jane books all too well. A series commonly used during the 1930s-1970s, using the whole word (or sight word) reading method to teach kids literacy at an early age.

TodayOur kids are even luckier today than any other generation before them when it comes to reading. Not only can they pull a book off any library shelf, but they can pull a digital book off any virtual shelf thanks to portable smart devices and the introduction of apps like ABC Mouse and Footsteps2Brilliance.[caption id="attachment_3024" align="aligncenter" width="400"]

Source: cheezeburger.com[/caption]While some reading programs from long ago are still used at home and in classrooms today, you can see that technology has taken the forefront when it comes to reading trends. Taking the time to sit, read, and discuss stories with your children, no matter which decade's reading trends jump out at you, ensures they are getting the most of their reading today and for years to come!