MILESTONES OF EARLY LITERACY DEVELOPMENT

1 MILESTONES OF EARLY LITERACY DEVELOPMENTMOTOR DEVELOPMENTWhat your child is doingCOMMUNICATION AND COGNITIONWhat your child is saying and learningANTICIPATORY GUIDANCEWhat parents can doAsk questions and wait for your child to answerRead and speak in your first languageWHAT TO READ holds head steadysits in lap without supportgrasps book, puts in mouthdrops, throws bookholds and walks with bookno longer puts book in mouth right awayturns board book pageslearns to turn paper pages, 2 to 3 pages at a timestarts to scribbleturns pages one at a time, and from left to rightsits still for longer storiesscribbles and drawsstarts to copy letters and numberssits still for even longer storiessmiles, babbles, cooslikes and wants your voicelikes pictures of baby facesbegins to say ma , ba , da responds to own namepats picture to show interesttalk back and forth with your baby; make eye contactcuddle, talk, sing, read, playpoint at and name things: nose, ball, baby, baby s cues for more or stop play games such as peek-a-boo or pat-a-cake board and cloth books; books with baby faces.

2 Nursery rhymessays single words, then 2- to 4-word phrasesgives book to adult to readpoints at pictures turns book right-side upnames pictures, follows simple storiesadds 2-4 new words per daynames familiar objectslikes the same book again and againcompletes sentences and rhymes in familiar storiessmile and answer when your child speaks or pointslet your child help turn the pages; keep naming thingsuse books in family routines: naptime, playtime, bedtime; on the potty; in the car, bususe books to calm or distract your child while waitingrecites whole phrases from booksmoves toward letter recognition begins to detect rhymepretends to read to dolls and stuffed animalsask Where s the dog? or What is that? be willing to read the same book again and againas you read, talk about the pictures keep using books in daily routinesask What happens next?

3 In familiar stories point out letters, numberspoint out words and pictures that begin with the same soundtogether, make up stories about the pictures board books; rhyming books; picture books; books that name thingsrhyming books; picture books that tell stories; search and find bookspicture books that tell longer stories; counting and alphabet bookscan listen longerrecognizes numbers, letterscan retell familiar storiescan make rhymeslearning letter names and soundsrelate the story to your child s own experienceslet your child see you read ask your child to tell the storyencourage writing, drawingpoint out the letters in your child s namefairy tales and legends; books with longer stories, fewer pictures6 TO 12 MONTHSNEWBORN TO 6 MONTHS12 TO 24 MONTHS2 TO 3 YEARS4 TO 5 YEARS3 TO 4 YEARSTALK, SING, READ, PLAY Right from birth, babies are listening, looking, and learning.

4 So find, and enjoy, those everyday moments when you can talk, sing, read, and play together with your YOUR CHILD CHOOSE WHICH BOOK TO READ. FIND STORIES ABOUT THINGS YOUR CHILD LIKES. 2013 Reach Out and Read, Inc. All rights reserved. Printed in the DEV_FLP002_1015