Literacy Tips for Parents

For Babies-

• Snuggle up with a baby-friendly book
• Keep books where your baby can reach them
• Talk with your baby all day long
• Encourage your baby to coo, growl & gurgle
• Give your baby a hand! Help them use their hands and senses
• Make reading a part of your daily routine
• Sing and read to your baby
• Make reading time the best part of the day!

For Toddlers-

• Don't expect toddlers to sit still for too long - make books a fun experience
• Recite rhymes, sing songs... it's okay to make a few mistakes!
• Choose great books
• Keep your reading short and simple and do it often
• Encourage play that involves naming, describing, and communicating
• Ask questions and listen to answers
• Play to their favorites... again and again
• Be willing to change... anything to keep it fun and fresh!

For Preschoolers-

• Read together everyday
• Give everything a name
• Tell your preschooler how much you enjoy reading
• Put "fun" in your voice
• Know when to stop
• Make the kids part of the stories
• Talk about writing
• Point out all of the places that the printed word is used
• If you're worried about your preschooler, don't hesitate to have them evaluated

For Kindergartners-

• Talk to your kids
• Say silly tongue twisters
• Read it & experience it
• Trace the letters and say them outloud
• Write it down
• Play sound and word games
• Read it again and again
• Talk about letters and sounds

(based on information from Reading Rockets)

Literacy Links

• Denver Public Library http://denverlibrary.org/

• Aurora Public Library http://www2.youseemore.com/

• Douglas County Library http://douglascountylibraries.org/

• Arapahoe Library District http://arapahoelibraries.org/ald/

• Colorado State Library http://www.cde.state.co.us/cdelib/

• The Learning Source http://www.coloradoliteracy.org

• Literacy Information and Communications System (LINCS) http://lincs.ed.gov/

• Colorado Literacy Coalition http://www.literacycolorado.org/

• Colorado Libraries for Early Literacy http://www.clel.org/

• Reading Rockets http://www.readingrockets.org/

• Succeed to Read  http://www.succeedtoread.com/

• Starfall        http://www.starfall.com/