Early literacy starts at birth and includes everything children know about language, reading, and writing before they become proficient readers and writers.

That doesn’t mean teaching babies to read; it means developing skills through shared experiences, positive interactions between children and caring adults, and the critical role of literacy-rich interactions.

The best way to promote early learning starts with what parents and caregivers are already doing with their children. To develop the skills needed to read, use the five practices of early literacy: talking, reading, playing, singing, and writing. These five practices are easy to do with children of all ages. They can be done anywhere, and no special tools are needed! Take a look at some examples on our site or visit a Library program to learn more.

The sooner they start, the further they’ll go!