Parent Tips
As a parent, you of course want the very best for your children! The articles below provide you with tips on how to support, encourage, and ensure that your children have what they need to thrive in school, learn to read, and be all they can be. Many more articles are available on this web site, including those specifically about Reading Together, Advocacy, Developmental Timelines, Struggling Readers, and much more.
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Playing with Word Sounds: Stretch and Shorten
Listen and Look at Back-to-School Night
Back-to-School Night is a great opportunity for families to learn more about their child's school and teacher. Here are some signs to look for that indicate your child is in a place where good reading instruction can take place.
Everyday activities are a natural and effective way to begin teaching your young child about letters and words. Download and print these colorful "take-along" activities the next time you go to the grocery store or farmer's market. Turn your regular trip into a reading adventure!
Building Your Child’s Vocabulary
Find Good Schools and Good Teachers
It's important to recognize what good schools look like. The quality of your child's school has a huge impact on his or her learning.
Help your child get the most out of a family or school trip to the museum. Spend some time at the library or online to learn more about subjects that interest your child. And don't forget to ask family members about their own interesting collections!
How to Make the Most of Summer
This tip sheet from the Center for Summer Learning shares some things parents can do to keep kids sharp over the summer.
How to Read with a Beginning Reader
Most beginning readers are inconsistent. Learn more about the characteristics of a beginning reader and simple techniques and tips to nurture your child's skills and joy in reading.
Rediscover Your Public Library
Successful Transition to Kindergarten for Learners Who May Be at Risk for Learning Disabilities
A Fresh Look at Your Home Library
I Love Storytime: The Best Way to Read to Your Toddler
Reading to your toddler is one of the best ways to boost language skills. Here are 12 tips to help make sure your toddler gets a head start on reading.
Reading to Two: A Double Challenge
While parents understand the importance of reading to children, it is often a struggle to read to two. How can parents negotiate the "book wars," when one child only wants to read chapter books and the other insists on reading picture books? What can parents do when one child wants to read about dinosaurs and the other wants to read about ballerinas?
Selecting Books for Your Child: Finding 'Just Right' Books
How can parents help their children find books that are not "too hard" and not "too easy" but instead are "just right"? Here's some advice.
How Does Your Child Hear and Talk?
Every child is unique and has an individual rate of development. This chart represents, on average, the age by which most children will accomplish skills in hearing, understanding, and talking.
Handwriting: What's Normal, What's Not
This article lists some milestones to look for as your child's handwriting skills begin to develop. The article also describes some signs and symptoms of dysgraphia, a learning disability that affects a child's handwriting and ability to hold a pen, pencil, or crayon.
Starting a home library for your child shows him/her how important books are. Having books of his/her own in a special place boosts the chance that your child will want to read even more. Here are some ideas for creating your own home library.
Activities to Encourage Speech and Language Development
The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association offers these age-appropriate ways that parents can engage their young children to help develop speech and language abilities.