First Steps to Reading: Birth to Age Five - Start Small!
A few ideas for parents and caregivers of babies, toddlers and preschoolers...
Read and sing to your baby! Researchers have found that reading aloud to your child during infancy supports language acquisition, vocabulary development and comprehension. Start with rhymes and songs like "Itsy, Bitsy Spider," or read a birthday card, a cereal box, or even the newspaper! Children learn to identify sounds when you read and sing to them.
Teach your child to read pictures. Reading pictures builds visual literacy skills and encourages pre-readers to make connections between images and text. Play "I Spy" and ask question like "Why do you think the dog is hiding?" or "What did the little chick find in the barnyard?"
Change your voice for different characters in a story. Help your child understand the characters through your voice, and learn how to express a story creatively.
Read the same book over and over. Hearing the same story many times makes children feel secure, and repitition builds recognition.
Make a special time for reading aloud -- before bed, in the bath, during a trip to the park, anytime! Savor the moment, and don't be in a hurry. Let your child know that spending time together with books is important to you.
Visit the library often and let children help select their own books. Baby Bounce and Preschool Storytime in the Youth Services area are free and available all year round, and family readers are encouraged to participate in the Summer Reading Program. Youth Services also offers Early Literacy computers to children up to age 8 for skillbuilding and fun!
Use computers creatively and wisely. The library web site can be your portal to entertaining, educational and safe internet sites and other digital resources, including Tumblebooks, and Tutor.com.
How the library can help: Membership, programs and more.
Find books by browsing our catalog. Scroll down to find our fabulous phonics collection...
Apply for a library card today!
Library membership is open to children of all ages, and provides them with a portal to the world. With a library card, your child can...
- Check out books, movies, and music
- Download ebooks and audiobooks
- Log in to computers in the children's area
- Access digital resources and databases in the library or from home
Library Programs for Young Children
Bring your child to the library and share in a variety of programs for babies, toddlers and preschoolers to enjoy. Check the library calendar for...
- Baby Bounce and Play Group with Miss Moffit - designed to introduce infants to the world of sounds, stories and movement, helping to build pre-reading skills. An informal playgroup immediately follows story time. Best suited for infants to age 2 with caregiver.
- Pre-school Rhyme Time with Miss Moffit - features stories, songs, finger plays and crafts for children and their caregivers. Library story times are a fun way to help your child develop the skills they will need to be ready to read. And it's fun for you too! Ages 3-5.
- Early Learning Computers - A safe and fun way for children up to age 8 to develop technology skills while learning math, reading, science, geography, art, music and more.
Finding Phonics Materials @ the Library
Phonics
Help your early reader learn to decode words by using some of the great Phonics resources found at the ACFPL library. We have books, DVDs and Spoken Word. Select the titles below to access our catalog!
More Resources for Parents and Caregivers
Ask the experts! Check out the following links to find out more about reading readiness and development.
- Get Set For KindergartenEndorsed by the Association of Library Services to Children, this resource from the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library includes a month by month guide to school readiness as well as a parent toolkit and links to interactive stories, booklists and more.
- Nemours BrightstartOne of the nation's leading pediatric health centers provides research based information on issues surrounding literacy and children's health; includes an early literacy curriculum guide, as well as preventive health information. The Nemours site is a treasure trove of information about children and their development.
- Reading is FundamentalExplore the entire site for valuable information about literacy development and programs for the entire family. The RIF mission statement is "To motivate young children to read by working with them, their parents, and community members to make reading a fun and beneficial part of everyday life. RIF's highest priority is reaching under-served children from birth to age 8." Explore the entire site for valuable information about literacy development and programs for the entire family.
- Developmental Milestones for Your Child's First YearsPart of the PBS Wholechild Program, this web page maps childhood development in four crucial areas. Explore these companion PBS Parents Web sites: Growing With Media (media and children), Inclusive Communities (children with special needs), and Talking and Reading Together (reading and communication skills.)
- NJ Parentlink: The Early Childhood, Parenting and Professional Resource CenterFeatures NJ state services and resources for children and their families. Explore the Development and Behavioral Health section for information about reading readiness.
- Reading Readiness: Rutgers UniversityThe Institute of Reading Development at Rutgers University offers fee-based courses for families on reading readiness, phonics, comprehension and appreciation of literature. Classes are held at locations throughout the state. Check out their website for more resources.