Engaging very young readers

Starts before babies can talk

Did you know that early literacy starts way before a child reaches a classroom? it begins before babies can talk and continues as they become toddlers and preschoolers.

by helping children develop language and a love of books from an early age, families and communities are setting up young children for success in kindergarten and later in life.

in fact, studies have linked the number of words children know at ages 3 and 4 to their reading comprehension levels at ages 9 and 10. gaps in children’s vocabulary can start to develop between 9 and 18 months of age and those gaps only widen as babies get older. So if we want to make our children good readers, we need to start when learning begins: at birth.

Strong early literacy skills are developed when young children hear a variety of words from their families and at child care and preschool; when they have the opportunity to practice their growing vocabulary with adult caregivers and other children; and, when they are exposed to books from an early age.

And reading books to babies, toddlers and preschoolers introduces them to a wider range of words that they might normally hear in everyday conversation.

First Things First, Arizona’s early childhood agency, reminds Arizona families that 90 percent of a child’s brain growth happens by age 5 and daily interactions with caregivers have a huge impact on building vocabulary and language. When infants hear and use language, their brains develop the connections needed to learn how to read.

it is said that children are made readers in the laps of their parents. Families can help foster early language and literacy skills in various ways.

• Read to your child every day starting at birth. very young babies respond to the soothing sound of a book being read aloud.

• Keep a lot of reading material in your home and let your child see you reading.

• Make frequent visits to the public library.

• Talk frequently to your baby, toddler or preschooler; ask them lots of questions and listen patiently to their answers.

• Sing songs and make up rhymes.

• Choose books appropriate to your child’s age and interests. For example, board or cloth books that a baby can hold.

• Connect with resources for parents to support young readers, contact the birth to 5 helpline 877.705. kids (5437) birthtofivehelpline.org

• Contact local programs that promote early literacy and language, such as the Yuma early literacy Project, 480.869.0015 ana.bribiesca@asu.edu

• And, no matter your child’s age, help their vocabulary grow through your daily interactions: describe what you’re doing. read signs and labels aloud. Sing songs. And make up rhymes.

Ftf’s language and early literacy Development page at https:// www.firstthingsfirst.org/resources/ language-and-literacy/ provides ways families can help build early language and literacy skills. These include how to read with your baby and toddler, how reading helps develop life skills and videos that show the importance of back-andforth conversations with babies.

When children are exposed to language and books in their early years, there’s no limit to where they can go!

For more information on First things First in Yuma county or to get involved, contact:

Rudy J. Ortiz, REGIONAL DIRECTOR. (928) 343-3020 or rjortiz@firstthingsfirst.org

Nena Garcia, COMMUNITY OUTREACH COORDINATOR. (928) 343-3020 or mgarcia@firstthingsfirst.org