"A Child Becomes a Reader (Birth through Preschool)"

When does a child learn to read? Many people might say, “in kindergarten or first grade.” But

researchers have told us something very important. Learning to read and write can start at

home, long before children go to school. Children can start down the road to becoming

readers from the day they are born.

Very early, children begin to learn about spoken language when they hear their family

members talking, laughing, and singing, and when they respond to all of the sounds that fill

their world. They begin to understand written language when they hear adults read stories to

them and see adults reading newspapers, magazines, and books for themselves. These early

experiences with spoken and written language set the stage for children to become

successful readers and writers. For more information:

http://www.nifl.gov/partnershipforreading/publications/reading_pre.pdf