Developmental Milestones and Changes

There are five key activities the Every Child Ready to Read program suggests can be done with children to encourage the development of early literacy skills, which are talking, singing, reading, writing, and playing. Librarians can model these practices in their programming to provide ideas and examples for families to practice with their children at home. While libraries are important in providing fun and engaging opportunities for learning, families and caregivers are truly their children’s first and most important teachers, and empowering them to practice these skills with their children can be impactful.

• TALKING introduces new words and helps children understand oral language.  Ask questions about the book as you read together.
• SINGING helps children break down words and to hear their smaller parts.  Sing songs and use rhymes with children.
• READING books aloud and pointing out text in the world around you introduces children to new words and lets them know that print is everywhere. They also learn how books work and about narrative structure.
• WRITING allows children to hone their fine motor skills and to build hand strength.  Before they are ready to write words they can scribble, draw, make crafts, hold items like scarves and shakers, and trace letters.
• PLAYING offers a host of benefits, including the opportunity to practice putting thoughts into words. Use puppets or objects to retell a story.

Please watch the following video (6:16) from the Gail Borden Public Library that explains their early literacy program, the skills that parents and families can help their children practice, and why this is important to young children.

   (~6:16)

We encourage you to seek out additional training on the early literacy practices found in Every Child Ready to Read, available either at the state level or nationally.

To learn more about Montana's early literacy resources, please contact the Lifelong Learning Librarian, Bobbi deMontigny. Please also see the workbook for more information on Every Child Ready to Read.