Today's Readers are Tomorrow's Leaders!

 The importance of raising and nurturing young readers cannot be stressed enough. Early Literacy interventions are key to establishing a firm foundation for lifelong learners and future success!

"Early literacy encompasses the activities that very young children do and the skills they cultivate to begin understanding reading and writing and how those activities fit into the world. In particular, what children do and the skills they develop prior to receiving formal instruction are the focus of early literacy." (Wilson College, 2024)

Per Wilson College (2024) and Voyager Sopris Learning the benefits of nurturing early literacy are:

1. The establishment of a firm, learning foundation,

2. The development of stronger bonds with caregivers,
3. Improvement of the child's communication skills,

4. Strengthening of emotional and social skills,

5. Improvement in social outcomes,

6. Cognitive development,

7. School readiness.

Fortunately, there are quite a few activities and interventions that caregivers can employ to help their child develop into a proficient, lifelong reader! Here are a few--

1. Make reading a daily practice.

2. Read aloud.

3. Have discussions about the text with your young reader.

4. Create a literacy-rich environment for your child.

5. Download and use reading/learning apps, such as ABC Mouse and Reading IQ.

6. Phonics, word recognition, and vocabulary activities.

7. Environmental print--label furniture and items in your home that identify the objects and encourage the child to read and recognize words.
8. Re-read your child's favorite books.