For Kids
Toddlers and Early Literacy
 "If every parent read aloud a minimum of three stories a day to the children in their lives, we could probably wipe out illiteracy within one generation." — Mem Fox |
What your young toddler can do:
- Puts words together to make simple two-word sentences
- Listens to music and dances to the rhythm
- Explores, pretends and "copies" what he sees
- Plays simple games
- Can hold a book and "pretend" to read to himself
What you can do:
- Read slightly longer stories over and over again
- Encourage your child to talk about the pictures
- Relate the story to activities you do together
- Let your child browse and select the books
- Continue sharing rhymes with finger and hand movements
What your older toddler can do:
- Greatly increases his listening and speaking vocabulary
- Can count, name some colors, recognize some shapes and sizes
- Understand some simple concepts
- Engages in "pretend" play such as reading to himself or others
What you can do:
- Expand on what your child says
- Use alphabet, counting and concept books
- Encourage your child to scribble, draw and write
- Sing songs with rhymes
- Select books with rhyme, rhythm and repetition
- Ask questions about the stories
- Encourage your child to act out the story
Resources for choosing great books:
Reading together and reading aloud is fun and important for young children. Hearing books read aloud gives young children a good start in building vocabulary, learning about their world and loving books.
Books Make The Best Beginnings Great Reads Read Together Read Aloud Lean Juntos, Lean en Voz Alta