LITERACY

Many people believe that children learn to read and write in kindergarten or first grade. But developing literacy skills begins at birth through everyday loving interactions--sharing books, telling stories, singing songs, talking to one another, or pointing out and naming objects. Even painting, drawing or picking up things serve a purpose. These activities help develop hand muscles and coordination--skills necessary for learning how to write.

Adults--parents, grandparents and teachers--play a powerful role in preparing young children for future school success and in becoming self-confident and motivated learners.

Here are some tips for helping your children develop a love of reading.

Everyday Ways to Support Your Baby or Toddler's Early Learning. Download this handout (in both English and Spanish) to learn more about how you can support your child's development—and have fun together—in the everyday moments you share. Click here to download.

What is Early Literacy? The Multnomah County Library explores why early literacy is important and how parents can develop their child's literacy skills. Click here to download.

Beginnings of Literacy. Zero to Three Journal article that explains how early literacy skills emerge in the context of imaginative play and loving relationships. Click here to download.

What We Know About Early Literacy and Language Development. Provides information on how early language and literacy skills unfold across the first three years of life. Click here to download.

Bridges to Literacy: Early Routines That Promote Later School Success. Zero to Three Journal article that explains various mechanisms involved in children’s development of early literacy skills. Includes suggestions for parents. Click here to download.

The Emergence of Storytelling During the First Three Years. Zero to Three Journal article which explores the powerful role played by stories and storytelling in early learning and development. Click here to download.

Tips on Helping Your Child Learn to Communicate. Offers suggestions to parents on supporting children’s language and communication skills. Click here to download.

Tips on Helping Your Child Learn to Talk. Provides a brief introduction to language development with age-appropriate language-building suggestions for children aged birth to three. Click here to download.

Tips for Choosing Books for Babies and Toddlers. Offers some general suggestions on the types of books that appeal to children aged birth to five. Click here to download.

Tips for Sharing Books with Babies and Toddlers. Provides ideas for making reading a fun and nurturing experience for children. Click here to download.

A Book Is a Child's Companion. Zero to Three Journal essay which explores the magical way in which sharing books ignites a love of reading in infants and toddlers. Click here to download.

Here we offer research that we feel supports our work with early childhood literacy. We encourage you to use these downloads as resources and share this information with others.

Why Begin with Infants? Provides information on how the foundation for future learning begins at birth (and in many ways before birth). Click here to download.

The Economic Benefits of High-Quality Early Childhood Programs: What Makes the Difference? Prepared by Families and Work Institute for The Committee for Economic Development. This paper focuses on three early education programs that have provided the strongest evidence of the economic benefits of quality early childhood programs - High/Scope Perry Preschool Project, the Abecedarian Project, and the Chicago Child-Parent Centers. This paper discusses what made the three programs successful. Click here to download.

Invest in the Very Young. James J. Heckman, PhD; 2000 Nobel Laureate in Economic Sciences "On a purely economic basis," Dr. Heckman says, "it makes a lot of sense to invest in the young." Heckman suggests that taking a broader view of the way skills are formed in a modern economy is more appropriate and more beneficial. This paper has been adapted from Dr. Heckman's journal article, "Fostering Human Capital."
Click here to download.