Reading doesn’t begin in kindergarten - it starts in infancy and early childhood.
Extensive brain development research reveals the literacy environment in the home makes a significant impact on how a child approaches learning to read.
Parents and educators may wonder: What can we do to ensure our young learners come to kindergarten with the knowledge, skills, and attitudes they need to become confident readers?
Dr. John Hutton, Associate Professor of General and Community Pediatrics at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, recently partnered with Just Right Reader to share what occurs in the brain during early childhood and how we can support that development.
4 Things You Should Know about Early Reading Development
1. It is important to create a positive home literacy environment that starts from infancy and continues throughout the child’s reading journey.
2. There are several factors that contribute to emergent literacy including experiences and relationships with books, skills, and attitudes.
3. The first few years of life are when the brain is developing most rapidly. This reinforces the importance of developing a positive literacy environment during those early years.
4. There are several actionable steps families can take to support emergent literacy development at home.
Learn More with Dr. Hutton
- Uses MRI research to illustrate the impacts of excessive screen time on language development, literacy skills, and social cognition.
- Explains the importance of frequently reading with young children and using animated voices, sound effects, and questions about the story.
- Provides screenings, interventions, and other actionable strategies for reading with babies and young children.
Click here to watch the full webinar replay.
