Reading Skills

1)  Enjoyment of Books - develop an interest in books.

• Visit the library and bookstores.

• Read to your baby/child.

• Read your own books in front of your baby/child.

2) Word Knowledge - knowing the names of things.

• Talk with your child about what is going on around them and their surroundings.

• Talk about the story and pictures.

3)  Sound Combinations/Sound Awareness - the ability to hear and use the smaller sounds in words.

• Rhyme with your child.

• Sing songs.

• Play word games.

4)  Print Awareness - learning that we read from left to right and top to bottom in the English language.

• Read words that are in a child’s environment (such as street signs or signs in buildings).

• Let your child hold the book and turn the pages.

• Point to words as you read them.

5)  Verbal Skills- a child’s ability to understand and tell stories.

• Tell stories to your child.

• Allow your child to tell you stories.

• Read your child’s favorite books over and over again.

6)  Letter Knowledge- learning that letters look different and have different names and sounds.

• Talk about the similarities and differences between shapes and letters.

• Point out letters to your child.

• Read alphabet books.

Birth to 6 Early Literacy Skills  

American Library Association Every Child Ready to Read