Dear Families,
You are your child’s first and most important teacher. The early years of a child’s life are critical for laying the foundation for reading and language skills. Teaching them to read begins long before they enter a classroom.
Here are some simple yet effective ways to help your toddler (ages 18 months to 2 years) “get ready to read.”
Teach Them to Read: Tips and Checklist
- Read with your child every day, even if it’s just for a few minutes. Regular exposure to books fosters a love of reading early on.
- Encourage your child to bring their favorite books to you so that reading becomes an activity they look forward to and initiate.
- Point to pictures and name them aloud while reading, and invite your child to point to pictures too. This interaction builds vocabulary and comprehension.
- Watch for eye contact when reading aloud. If your child makes eye contact, it’s a good sign they’re engaged with both you and the story.
- Talk with your child throughout the day about what you’re doing and what’s happening around them. Every conversation strengthens language skills.
- Be patient when your child wants to read the same book over and over again. Repetition helps with learning, and toddlers find comfort in familiar stories.
- Encourage your child to “play” with books—picking them up, flipping through the pages, and exploring them physically. This makes books feel fun and approachable.
- Listen when your child “pretends” to read a book. They may flip through pages and say words, even if they don’t match the text. This is an important early step in understanding how books work.
- Provide paper and crayons for scribbling and drawing. Even if it seems like scribbles now, this is how they begin to connect writing and language.
By incorporating these tips into your daily routine, you’re helping your toddler develop essential early literacy skills that will make learning to read easier and more enjoyable as they grow.
At Early Steps Learning Center, we believe that every small step counts in your child’s development, and literacy truly begins at home.
Happy reading!
– The Early Steps Learning Center Team
