Early Literacy
Early literacy skills are the knowledge children need to read and write later in life.
“There are many little ways to enlarge your child’s world.
Love of books is the best of all”
―
Reading Tips & Information
Reading aloud to young children helps build positive connections and sets the foundation for all future learning.
Smart Start’s Early Learning Resource Center
Parents and caregivers of children birth to five have access to books, learning materials, and a play space for their little ones. Early educators and child care providers have access to books, activity kits, and low-cost supplies for their classrooms.
Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library
The program’s mission is to foster a love of reading in children ages birth to five through the gift of a free, age-appropriate book mailed to a child’s home every month.
Reading Tips & Information
Research shows children who are frequently read to have improved language and listening skills and feel closer to loved ones. Togetherness fosters security, and shared reading builds positive bonds that lead to happier, healthier kids. These bonds help children to foster a sense of belonging, promote positive self-image, and encourage social emotional development.
Early literacy has also been shown to improve thinking and reasoning skills, minimize behavioral challenges, and enhance language skills which, in turn, can help children better describe their feelings. Children who begin kindergarten behind their peers in literacy and reading skills often have a tough time catching up. Additionally, reading and literacy challenges often co-occur with behavioral challenges. A wealth of research has established the importance of early literacy skills as a predictor of future success in school and in adulthood.
How to use reading to create meaningful, positive interactions with your child:
- Read to your child every day, even if it’s only for a few minutes
- Use a warm, engaging, and comforting voice
- Create a comfortable space for reading
- Follow the child’s lead
- Be responsive to your child
- If they are old enough to turn the pages, encourage them to do so
- Respond to your child’s vocalizations
- Allow them to select the books they are interested in
- Reading the same books over and over helps children learn
- Use different voices for different characters
- Talk about the pictures, and ask your child questions about the story
- Incorporate books about empathy, emotions, diversity, and inclusion
- When your child starts to read on their own encourage them to read aloud to you
- Show your enthusiasm and interest as your child is reading.
Additional Resources
Early Literacy Initiatives
Smart Start’s Little Free Library for Young Children
Take a book or share a book! Families are encouraged to visit and allow their young ones to choose a book or two of their own. If you’d like to share a book, we kindly ask that you only leave new or gently loved books appropriate for children ages birth to 5.
Our Little Free Library is located at 725 Wellington Ave., next to the Early Learning Resource Center. Open Mon-Fri 8am-5pm. Contact us for more info.
Inchy the Bookworm Book Vending Machine – Providing free books to children ages birth to five
Children visiting NHC’s Women, Infant, and Children (WIC) office for their wellness checkup receive a gold token and get choose their very own book from the machine to take home! Smart Start of NHC relies on local support to fund this amazing program. For more information or to help, contact us.
