READING TO YOUR CHILD is the best thing you can do to to jump-start your child’s education and put them on the fast track to literacy. A child’s knowledge of the world around them and the language used to describe and name the world is a great predictor of future school and reading success! Help build that language as your child’s first and most important teacher while building memorable bonding moments.

Tips for reading to your child:

• Visit the library (virtually and in person) for lots of great books about things you and your child love! Don’t just read stories; try finding some cool books in the children’s Non-Fiction section. Kids love to read about things that are true! Read lots of different kinds of books with your child.

• Have lots of discussion about the story. Have your child use the pictures to talk about the story. What will happen next? What was your favorite part? Why? Can you retell the story by looking at the pictures? What did you learn? What do you want to read about next? Use words like character, setting, beginning, middle and ending.

• Expose your child to concepts about print when reading. Read easy books and point to each word to show your child how the print on the page works. Where is the front cover and title? Which page do I read first? Show your child how you read one word at a time and that it matches the words on the page.

Resources:

• Reading Rockets - tips for parents on a variety of early literacy strategies.

• South Sound Reading Foundation - tips for making reading aloud fun for you and your child.

• NY Times - tips for How to Raise a Reader

• Start with a Book - More tips and tricks -

• Carroll County Public Library - Check out Kids and Teens

• CCPS and CCPL Summer Reading Challenge

• Summer Reading Challenge Game Board