Summer Reading Program Family Literacy

A connection is made in a child's brain when a parent or caregiver reads a story to a child or has a
conversation with her. A connection is reinforced with repetition. Repetition is how children make learning
permanent and it is a critical part of a child's journey to knowledge. Every time children hear the same story, they
learn something new.
source: Better Brains for Babies.

Reading to young children promotes language acquisition and correlates with literacy development
and, later on, with achievement in reading comprehension and overall success in school. The
percentage of young children read aloud to daily by a family member is one indicator of how well-prepared young
children are for school. source: National Center for Education Statistics.

Family participation in literacy activities provides valuable developmental experiences for young
children. In addition to developing an interest in reading, children who are read to, told stories, and visit the
library may start school better prepared to learn. Engaging young children in literacy activities at home also
enables parents and other family members to become active participants in their children's education at an early
age. source: National Center for Education Statistics.

The Early Childhood Longitudinal Study found the following for kindergartners in the fall of 1998:
- 46 percent of parents read to their children every day. (Coley, p55, Figure 31)
- 62 percent of parents with a high socioeconomic status read to their children every day, compared to
- 36 percent of parents with a low socioeconomic status. (Coley, p56, Figure 32)
source: National Institute for Literacy.

The Early Childhood Longitudinal Study found that in spring 2000, the children who were read to at
least three times a week by a family member were almost twice as likely to score in the top 25
percent in reading than children who were read to less than 3 times a week. (Denton, p16)
source: National Institute for Literacy

Sharing books...
- Helps create a special bond between parents and children.
- Introduces children to art through the illustrations.
- Enhances children's listening skills.
- Introduces children to a wide variety of experiences.
- Helps prepare children for learning to read.
- Improves and enriches the quality of children's lives.
- Provides fun and enjoyment for children and adults.
source: Born to Read, How to Raise a Reader.

When to share books:
- Begin when your child is born.
- Set aside a special time each day, such as nap time, bedtime, or after meals.
- Share books when you and your child are in a relaxed mood.
- Limit sharing time if your child becomes fussy or restless.
- Take advantage of "waiting" times to share books--on trips, at the doctors's office, in line at the grocery store.
- Soothe a child who is sick or cranky.
source: Born to Read, How to Raise a Reader.

How to share books:
- Find a comfortable place to sit (a rocking chair is wonderful).
- Recite or sing rhymes from your favorite books.
- Turn off other distractions--television, radio, or stereo.
- Hold the book so your child can see the pages clearly.
- Involve your child by having him or her point out objects,
- Talk about the pictures, or repeat common words.
- Read with expression.
- Vary the pace of your reading--slow or fast.
- Find other titles by the authors and illustrators included in this list.
- Have your child select books to read.
- Reread your child's favorite books whenever asked.
source: Born to Read

How to Raise a Reader:
Young children can begin to learn about the complex process of deriving meaning from print long before they can
decode or even recognize letters. When young children see other people reading, and when others read to them
or involve them in other activities related to reading, they become familiar with print and some of its uses. For
example, when they see people who are important to them reading a recipe to bake a cake, reading a newspaper
to find out what movies are on TV, or reading letters from distant relatives in Vietnam, young children experience
reading as a meaningful activity and part of everyday life. source: Zero to Three.

Reading aloud to children has been called the single most important activity for building the knowledge required
for success in reading. Reading aloud, with children participating actively, helps children learn new words, learn
more about the world, learn about written language, and see the connection between words that are spoken and
words that are written.
source: National Institute for Family Literacy.

If daily reading begins in infancy, by the time the child is 5 years old, he or she has been fed roughly 900 hours of
brain food! source: America Reads.

Reduce that experience to just 30 minutes a week and the child's hungry mind loses 770 hours of nursery
rhymes, fairy tales, and stories. source: America Reads.

A kindergarten student who has not been read to could enter school with less than 60 hours of literacy nutrition.
No teacher, no matter how talented, can make up for those lost hours of mental nourishment. source: America
Reads.

Many pediatricians believe that a child who has never held a book or listened to a story is not a fully healthy child.
Reading aloud to young children is so critical that the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that doctors
prescribe reading activities along with other advice given to parents at regular check-ups. source: America
Reads.

Types of books to be shared with infants include:
- Books with rhyme, rhythm, and repetition
- Books with pictures of other babies
- Informational books
- Poetry books
- Books with textures or touch and feel books
- Mother Goose and nursery rhyme books
- Concept books - ABC's, Colors, Shapes, Numbers, etc.
- Folktales
- Books that feature familiar items or events in baby's world
- Books that feature sounds
- Books babies can manipulate, such as lift the flap books or books with holes (12 - 18 months)
- Books of different sizes and shapes (18-30 months)
- Books with "parent appeal"
source: Books and Babies.