Every Child Ready to Read
Learn how to incorporate reading, singing, playing, talking and writing into your child’s daily routines at home, on the go and at the library.
Did you know that children get ready to learn to read well before they actually read?
By developing early literacy skills, or the building blocks to reading readiness, children are growing cognitively, physically, emotionally and socially. The greatest amount of brain growth in our lives occurs between birth and age five. A child’s preschool years are crucial to prepare a child for reading and academic success in school through the development of early literacy skills.
Every Child Read to Read uses five early literacy practices that parents and children can enjoy together while helping get children ready to read.
- Parents and caregivers are a child’s first teacher; they know their children best and can help them learn in ways and at times that are easiest for the children
- The Every Child Ready to Read early literacy practices can be used with children from birth to age five, are easy to incorporate into everyday activities, and are fun for children and parents
- These practices can be done anywhere a parent and child spend time together and they do not have to take a lot of time
Early Literacy at the Library
- Attend storytimes and early learning programs designed with Every Child Ready to Read principles (see the Engage brochure for a full schedule)
- Play with puppets, puzzles, toys and more to encourage motor and social development
- Borrow materials including books, STEAM Kits, Theme Bags, Bilingual Backpacks and more to encourage your child’s learning
Shared reading, no matter the age, is the single most important activity that you can do to help your child get ready to read
Singing slows down language so children can hear different parts of words and notice how they are alike and different
Play helps children express themselves, put thoughts into words, and think symbolically so they understand that spoken and written words can stand for real objects and experiences
As they hear spoken words, children learn how individual words sound, what words mean, and how words can be put together to communicate ideas and information
Scribbling and writing help children learn that written words stand for spoken language. Fingerplays, action rhymes, and playing with toys help develop hand muscles which help children get ready to hold writing implements.
