Preschool and Child Care

Preschools and child care providers are often children's first experience with school. Each plays an important role in preparing children for later success. Find out what preschools and day care centers can do to promote literacy development. For more information, visit our section for Preschool Teachers and Childcare Providers.

Featured partner: National Association for the Education of Young Children

Featured Video: Preschool and Child Care

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Our PBS Series:
Launching Young Readers

Becoming Bilingual

Explore the challenges of teaching English language learners to read, and the different ways schools are working to create bilingual readers.

Toddling Toward Reading

Find out what it takes to give our preschoolers the early literacy skills they need to become successful readers.

The Basics

Preschool teacher helping children learn colors and shapes at a classroom table

Preparing Young Children for School

Home Literacy Environment Checklist

Dr. Robert Pianta: What Are Good Preschool Programs?

The NICHD Study of Early Child Care

Do Preschoolers Need Academic Content?

Early Literacy Instruction: Research Applications in the Classroom

two preschool children looking at a map together

Language and Literacy Environments in Preschools

Elementary teacher conducting a lesson in front of students seated on the carpet

Developmentally Appropriate Practices for Young Children: Recommendations for Teaching Practices

For Parents

Supporting Very Young Writers

Easing Into Preschool

The Parent-Teacher Conference (Pre-K)

Give Your Child a Head Start

Social Skills in Preschool

Good Night, Sleep Tight: Preschoolers and Sleep

Choosing a Preschool

Does My Preschooler Have Delayed Development?

Successful Transition to Kindergarten for Learners Who May Be at Risk for Learning Disabilities

For Teachers

Writing in Early Childhood Classrooms: 12 Best Practices

two preschool teachers with two toddlers at table full of blocks

What Does 20 Years of Research Say About Teaching Language and Literacy in Preschool?

How Do I Write…? Scaffolding Preschoolers’ Early Writing Skills

Home Visiting Program Helps Toddlers Fill Learning Gaps

Professional Development Webcasts

Listen, watch, and learn from top experts in these engaging roundtable discussions. Each webcast features a 60–minute video as well as recommended readings and suggested discussion questions.

Implementing Response to Intervention in Early Childhood Settings

Preschool for ELLs

Educational Media: Screen Time and Literacy

From Babbling to Books: Building Pre-Reading Skills