Literacy should be an integral part of child development. The following types of activities are especially productive for enhancing young children’s reading and writing development.

Storybook Reading

Getting children to interact with books should be the key way in which children experience print. This interaction includes parents reading aloud to children as well as the children “reading” independently. Children’s favorite books should be read again and again. These repeated readings will encourage in-depth exploration of books by the children.

Tips for reading aloud to young children:

• Preview the book
  
• Introduce the book
  
• Read with expression
  
• Engage children in discussion about what is being read
  
• Ask open-ended questions
  
• Review what has been read

Types of books to include in a home library for young children:

• Wordless books
  
• Predictable books
  
• Repetitive text
  
• Picture storybooks
  
• Big books
  
• Participation books
  
• Poetry collections
  
• Concept books
  
• Non-fiction books
  
• Alphabet and counting books
  
• Easy reader books
  
• Finger-plays
  
• A dictionary