“One
of the best investments we can make is to give our kids the ingredients
they need to develop in the first five years of life.” — Hillary Rodham
Clinton
Good Reading Skills Begin at Birth
Last month, the U.S. Department of Education released a
report showing that the nation’s 9 and 13 year-olds are doing better in
reading than at any point since 1971. The report went on to show that
the achievement gap between black, Hispanic, and white students has
narrowed significantly.
This is good news for students and for the nation, but
there is more work to do, given that more than 34 percent of
third-graders still do not read at grade level.
This is a startling statistic that underscores the point
that most of these children will have difficulty with academic
achievement throughout their lives.
In fact, many of the same children who struggle with
early reading will not complete high school, and may experience behavior
problems, depression, and low self-esteem. Good reading skills
translate directly into good language skills and critical thinking, both
vital for better learning and job performance later in life.
These skills are developed in infancy when a baby starts
to understand language by connecting concepts with symbols—a picture of a
furry, four-legged animal with the word “dog”, for example.
Parents and caregivers can help babies build early
literacy skills by talking, reading, or singing to children. The more
words a baby hears, the richer her vocabulary becomes and the more she
is willing to learn down the road.
Research also shows that the less television and DVDs
babies and young children are exposed to, the better, given that
overexposure can actually detract from a child’s ability to absorb
language. Young children rely on hand gestures, facial expression, and
tone to understand what is being said and construct a vocabulary of
their own.
With time and attention, kids can develop a lifelong
passion for words that will follow them the rest of their lives.
Learn More:
-
The Campaign for Grade-Level Reading provides a number
of resources for parents and advocates to help develop grade-level
reading and avoid common pitfalls like “the summer slide.” Read more »
-
Children pattern their media consumption – a potential
deterrent to establishing good reading skills – after parents, and
television time is no different. Read more »
Recent News:
-
A new report from the National Assessment of Education
Progress shows that 9 and 13 year-olds are doing better in reading than
at any point since 1971. Read more »
-
Time’s Health and Family proves that it’s not just words that help kids build a stronger vocabulary. Read more »
-
Parade magazine has nine vital tips for building your child’s vocabulary. Read more »
