Teaching music is like teaching a language, the more exposure a child has to it the better.  I have found that all children do not learn to read music the same way.  If you are observant and ask questions as you teach the child will give you clues as to how they learn best.  Some children have well developed ears and are better at finding and playing the pitches on the piano then they are at reading.  Others have trouble hearing when they are playing the wrong pitches.  Some children can memorize the note sayings, Every, Good, Boy Deserves, Fudge, etc.. while others continually forget what the sayings are.

For visual learners I have discovered a colored note system to works really well.  When the student first starts they are only learning a few notes at a time which makes it easy to assign a color to each note.  I have them color all the C's, D's, etc. as they progress through their music.  In doing this they are forcing themselves to identify the note and physically color each note before playing the piece.  By the time they are done coloring and ready to play the piece they are already somewhat familiar with the patterns and timing.  With the colored music in front of them the student plays the piece with confidence, feeling good about their achievement.  Once I feel that a child has a good understanding of their notes I begin taking away colors, starting with the most familiar notes.  By the time they are part way through book 2 they are usually reading comfortably on their own.

Some children need more time, and I often find that some need a refresher as they progress.  As with anything, there are plateaus, forward and backward motion.  The most important thing is to keep the child interested and build their passion. I hope this helps as you teach your child the language of music.  For more information on my color system please contact me.