Children develop much of their capacity for learning in first three years of life, before they even start kindergarten. During this time, a child’s brain is growing to 90 percent of its eventual adult weight. Beginning at birth, language and literacy skills are developing in young children. When parents read aloud with their children, they are fostering pre-literacy skills that will help their child enter kindergarten prepared and ready to learn.

Every year, 35 percent of American children start kindergarten without the language skills they need to learn to read. Studies of individual families show that supporting literacy in the home is more important to a child’s success in school than family income or education level.

Parents can help by being a role model for reading. Let your child see you enjoying books and magazines. Talk about what you are reading, share the joy, and show them that literacy is valued part of family life.

1. Read to your child every day, for at least 30 minutes in total.
2. Try reading for a few minutes at a time, children may only sit for a short time for a story.
3. Make the story come alive – create voices for the characters or sing about the pictures.
4. Ask questions about the story and let your child ask questions too.
5. For infants, choose simple and colorful cloth and vinyl books. For preschoolers, choose books with repetition and rhyme.