| Providing positive, enjoyable literacy experiences give | | | | development.Show how books work. Point out the |
| young children opportunities to gain the knowledge, | | | | cover, show which is the top and bottom, front and |
| awareness, skills, and love of learning that they need | | | | back of the book, and talk about how words are |
| to later learn to read independently. Here are 8 ways | | | | read from left to right on the page. Use your finger |
| you can provide those experiences:CHOOSE THE | | | | to point to a word and the corresponding picture on |
| RIGHT BOOKSChoose books that have large colorful | | | | the page.TALK TO YOUR CHILDRemember literacy |
| pictures or photos; a few words on a page; rich | | | | is about more than reading the printed word, it is |
| language; and relate to concepts, people, or things in | | | | about communication and understanding.According to |
| children's lives. With this exposure, young children | | | | the National Research Council in Starting Out Right: A |
| learn that books and reading explain the world they | | | | Guide to Promoting Reading Success, "Talk is |
| live in and ultimately help them better understand | | | | essential - the more meaningful and substantive the |
| themselves. Sound like a tall order for a toddler?Not | | | | better." Babies and toddlers learn about the sounds, |
| really when you consider perennial favorites such as | | | | meanings, and ideas in language when adults talk with |
| The Hungry Caterpillar. This book does not contain | | | | them. Preschoolers expand their vocabulary and learn |
| many words but teaches counting and science | | | | sentence structure.Conversations with your children |
| concepts.READ OUT LOUDRead to children regularly | | | | about what they are reading are critical to children's |
| and often. Pick a regular reading time, but also watch | | | | learning. Discussing books helps them understand how |
| for opportunities to read books, signs, letters, or | | | | stories work, and how language works. When |
| other print spontaneously. The experience of reading | | | | reading, stop and talk about the pictures and words |
| as a typical, everyday occurrence helps children gain | | | | on the page.LISTEN TO YOUR CHILDAs much as |
| confidence that they can learn to read | | | | babies, toddlers, and preschoolers need to hear |
| themselves.Stories influence children's learning for life. | | | | language, they also need to practice and imitate |
| Some research suggests that the more stories | | | | sounds and words with interested listeners. Respond |
| children hear before entering school, the more likely | | | | to your child's conversation and repeat their words |
| they will be successful academically. Listening to | | | | back to them. Ask questions to show you are |
| books benefits their vocabulary and | | | | listening and that encourage a child to talk. Listen |
| comprehension.Spending just 15 minutes a day on this | | | | carefully and acknowledge answers. Listen to |
| worthwhile activity can reap tremendous | | | | children's questions and take time to answer.SING |
| benefits!MAKE READING FUNUse a variety of | | | | WITH YOUR CHILDChildren love to sing and can learn |
| expressions, tones, and voices to make a book even | | | | a great deal about stories and language from many |
| more fun.Allow a child to listen at her own pace. If a | | | | popular children's songs. Songs also often teach |
| baby fusses or a toddler wanders away, don't worry. | | | | through their content (alphabet, counting, etc.) Many |
| Set the book aside and try again later. A baby may | | | | nursery rhymes can also be learned through song and |
| only listen for a minute or two at a time. Toddlers | | | | knowledge of nursery rhymes is an important part of |
| may want to wander around while you read, or listen | | | | overall literacy.Pull out old favorites like "This Old Man" |
| to a few pages, move on to something else, and | | | | or "Where is Thumbkin?" and make up your own |
| then return for a few more pages.Encourage a child | | | | songs, too.LET YOUR CHILD WRITEWhen children |
| to join in on repeating phrases or rhymes, and honor | | | | write, they naturally begin to pay attention to the |
| requests to read the same book over and | | | | sounds words make and the letters that form words. |
| over.MAKE BOOKS AVAILABLEMake books available | | | | And it doesn't matter how they spell! Recent |
| to babies and toddlers every day. Babies don't | | | | research shows that young children who are allowed |
| distinguish books from other toys and may pull, toss, | | | | to write often with invented spelling, develop the |
| or chew books. This tactile, physical exploration of | | | | ability to become good readers.Deanna Mascle is the |
| books and how they work is important to literacy | | | | publisher of Preschoolers Learn More. |