Ideas for Encouraging Young Children to Read

As a librarian, I think a lot about reading and one thing I’m particularly thankful for is that my parents and grandparents and other members of my extended family read to me from an early age. In hindsight, it was probably the single most valuable thing they could have done for me during my early years. Research shows that children raised in homes where reading and family literacy activities are common are more likely to succeed in school and become better readers later in life.

If you’re a new or expecting parent or have a young child, and you’re looking for information on helping your child to develop early literacy skills, have a look at www.getreadytoread.org where you’ll find a wealth of resources and tips on preparing your child to learn how to read.

Here’s a few highlights from their website:

Literacy Checklists – They have one each for the home, classroom, and daycare and they’ll help you analyze your home literacy environment.

Tips for Preventing Early Reading Failure which has advice for parents and teachers.

Early Literacy Webinars – A series of videos that address various topics in the development of early literacy skills.

Literacy Activities – Suggests a variety of activities that engage children while aiding in the development of reading skills. Books are only part of it.

There is much, much more to be found on the site, so by all means go and explore. Be sure to keep your library in mind too. We have regular story time sessions designed to promote early literacy skills and an excellent collection of children’s books.

– Seth Moses, Bookmobile Manager

How do you encourage your children to read? Comment below to share your ideas.