Parents: Early Literacy
Early literacy means helping your child get ready to read.
Learning begins at birth and you are your child’s first and most important teacher! Here are five fun and easy ways to help make sure your child starts school ready to learn. Click on each activity to find out more.
Talking!
Children learn language by listening to their parents and others talk. When you talk with your baby, toddler or preschooler, your child learns new words and what they mean.
Reading!
Sharing books together every day is one of the most important things you can do with your child. Not only is it fun for you and your child, but will help your child learn many important pre-reading skills and grow a love of books.
Writing!
Encourage your child to scribble, draw and write. Using crayons and pencils develops motor skills they’ll need to make letters in school.
Playing!
Children learn by playing. When you play with your child, you’ll have fun together while your child learns new words and language skills.
Singing!
Songs are a fun way to learn about language. The alphabet song teaches letters, while rhyming songs help children hear the different sounds in words.
The Library offers activities and programs that support early literacy:
- STAR program
- Every Child Ready to Read workshops (PDF)
- Storytimes
- Wonderful books
- Children’s Areas in every library where parents and children can read, play and learn