What Is Your Child Learning?
Your child is learning two related but different concepts:
Point of View = WHO tells the story (first person uses "I/me"; third person uses "he/she/they")
Perspective = HOW a character thinks, feels, and sees events
Understanding these concepts helps children become better readers AND better writers!
Quick Reference: Point of View
First Person: The narrator IS a character in the story.
Clue words: I, me, my, we, us, our
Example: "I walked to my friend's house."
Third Person: The narrator is OUTSIDE the story.
Clue words: he, she, they, character names
Example: "Maria walked to her friend's house."
Activities to Try at Home
📺 TV & Movie Talk
While watching shows or movies together, pause and ask:
- "Whose story are we following right now?"
- "How does [character] feel about what just happened?"
- "How might [another character] see this differently?"
- "If [character] were telling this story, what would they say?"
👨👩👧 Family Story Swap
Talk about a family memory from different perspectives:
- Have each family member share what they remember about the same event
- Notice how each person remembers different details
- Discuss WHY people might remember things differently
- This shows that real life has multiple perspectives too!
📚 "What If" Reading
After reading a story together, play "What If":
- "What if this story were told by [another character]?"
- "What details would change? What would stay the same?"
- "What parts might that character NOT know about?"
- Try retelling a short scene from a different character's view
🎭 Perspective Switch
Practice seeing things from others' points of view:
- After a sibling disagreement: "How do you think your brother/sister felt?"
- When reading about historical events: "What did different people think?"
- At the dinner table: "What was the best part of your day?" (everyone shares)
- This builds empathy AND reading comprehension!
Questions to Ask While Reading
- "Who is telling this story? How can you tell?"
- "Do you see words like 'I' and 'me,' or character names like 'she' and 'he'?"
- "How does [character] feel about what happened?"
- "Why might [character] see this differently than [other character]?"
- "What does [character] know that [other character] doesn't know?"
- "How would this story be different if [character] were telling it?"
Parent Tip: Use Real Life!
Perspective isn't just in books—it's everywhere! When your child has a disagreement with a friend or sibling, help them think about the other person's perspective: "What do you think they were thinking? How might they have felt?" This is the same skill they need for reading, and it builds empathy and social skills too!
Books That Teach Perspective
These books are great for discussing point of view and perspective:
- The True Story of the Three Little Pigs by Jon Scieszka (wolf's perspective!)
- Voices in the Park by Anthony Browne (same event, 4 perspectives)
- Hey, Little Ant by Phillip and Hannah Hoose (ant vs. kid)
- Two Bad Ants by Chris Van Allsburg (ants' perspective of a kitchen)
- Each Kindness by Jacqueline Woodson (thinking about others' feelings)
Connection to the FAST Test
On the FAST test, your child will be asked to identify point of view AND explain how characters see things differently. Practice both! Ask "WHO is telling the story?" (point of view) AND "How does this character FEEL about what happened?" (perspective).
Información para Padres (Spanish Summary)
Punto de Vista vs. Perspectiva:
Punto de Vista = QUIÉN cuenta la historia
- Primera persona: El narrador está en la historia (usa "yo," "mi," "nosotros")
- Tercera persona: El narrador está fuera de la historia (usa "él," "ella," "ellos")
Perspectiva = CÓMO un personaje piensa, siente y ve los eventos
Actividades en casa:
- Mientras ven TV: "¿Cómo se siente [personaje] sobre lo que pasó?"
- Después de leer: "¿Cómo sería diferente si [otro personaje] contara la historia?"
- En la vida real: Ayude a su hijo a pensar en cómo otros ven las situaciones