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 (PDF)
Libros Hacen el Mejor Empiezo (PDF)
Great Reads
Read Together Read Aloud (PDF)
Lean Juntos, Lean en Voz Alta (PDF)