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I figured both my kids would love reading since I did. Not so much. It was a humbling blow when my first daughter didn’t want to sit still for an entire story. Apparently kids aren’t born readers. So, what’s a parent to do? Anything to raise a reader, including standing on your head. (It won’t […]

It’s time to get kids ready . . . and excited to go back to school! How? Go shopping and read books. Both are something you already do, right? Here’s how they can help get your child ready for school. Read Books Reading books about school gives kids a story in their minds. It tells […]

We’re still enjoying the summer sun and fun, but a new school year is fast approaching!  Now is the time to start preparing to make the switch.  You can help excite your children about the school season and avoid a last-minute back-to-school frenzy by trying these tips. Talk it up!  Talk to your child about […]

With summer wrapping up, you might find yourself and your children needing to make a few adjustments to get ready for the school year. We want to make this transition a smooth one, so we are inviting you to join a live Twitter discussion on back to school readiness! Day: Wednesday August 15, 2012 Time: […]

Kids love pretending to be grown-ups with jobs. Jobs such as doctor, teacher, librarian, firefighter, scientist, vet, cook, artist or mail carrier. Encourage and enrich their pretend play and you’ll give your children beneficial literacy learning opportunities. As you know, pretend play benefits children in so many ways – with social skills, vocabulary, imagination, self-control, […]

Summer: the season kids look forward to, but parents dread. There can be such a thing as too much free time. So for every parent who is stumped when confronted with the cry of “I’m bored,” here are some suggestions. When the weather is appropriate to go outside Have a family picnic — the picnic […]

Great news: you play a critical role in your child’s emerging literacy starting in infant through school-age years! You do this by: Reading with your child Creating opportunities for verbal interactions by playing patty cake together or encouraging a deep conversation about why a character in a book did something Placing important value on literacy […]

  Playdough, that squishy childhood staple, gets kids’ hands pounding, poking, rolling, and shaping while their brains find the play a valuable learning opportunity which builds literacy skills. Whether store-bought or homemade, playdough is a great way to engage children in hands-on learning. Try one of these engaging playdough activities and your child will be […]

Parents, if you’re like me, you’re always searching for free activities to share with your kids. Let me tell you, the library is the best free choice I’ve found. So great in fact, I counted six reasons to love the library. Story time From babies to preschoolers, the library offers story times with songs, crafts […]

Children are born storytellers and authors. Did you know that even the scribbles and drawings of a child count as writing? Yes! In fact, you’re seeing a writer grow before your very eyes because these are important pre-writing skills. A Scribble a Day Make scribbling and drawing part of every day. In an easily accessible […]

As part of our ongoing partnership with Sprout, the 24-hour preschool channel, we’re continuing to explore how we can make Kindness Count. This April, let’s discover how to be kind to the Earth with some tips on how to raise earth-friendly kids. And remember, small acts matter big! Raising Earth‐Friendly Kids Whether you’re a diehard […]

Let’s look at different age groups to see how oral language, reading, and writing all add up to create a literate child: Infants: Oral Language: Have conversations with your baby! After you say something, pause and give your baby time to respond. Reading: Read to your infant. Even if babies do not sit and listen […]