There is great pressure on parents to teach children to read as early as possible. In reality, precocious (early advanced) readers seem to almost master the skill on their own, without the assistance of highly touted, commercially available programs. The 18-month-old toddler who names the letters on alphabet blocks; or the 26-month-old who can…

Describes several techniques that enable parents to prepare their preschool children for the actual process of learning how to read that they will encounter when they enter school. (FL)

Takes issue with articles appearing in "Reading Teacher" entitled "Portrait of My Son as an Early Reader." Argues that parents who teach their children to read at an early age may neglect or overlook other essentials of their physical, emotional, and social growth. (FL)

Discusses how parents can be instrumental in developing prereading skills and fostering reading readiness in their children. (TO)

This pamphlet (Practitioner's Guide), in both an English version and Spanish version, is intended for parents of precocious readers. Research facts on early reading are briefly summarized. Implications for the classroom and home are offered and include a discussion of early school entrance, principles of reading instruction, and ways the parent…

In order to help parents encourage their young children as they develop reading skills, this list suggests that parents give each child as many opportunities as possible for meaningful experiences; strive for good language facility--answering in complete sentences and using exact labels; discourage baby talk; don't discourage young children from…

Examines studies on the nature and function of literacy activities at home, identifying barriers contributing to the separation of home and school, particularly for children from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds (e.g., different literacy practices and discourse patterns). Ways to facilitate home-school connections are presented. Studies conducted…

A study examined the effects of preschool reading intervention procedures on the knowledge about reading (reading readiness) of the subjects as they entered kindergarten. One such intervention, carried out for two consecutive years, involved giving low and middle income parents packets of several small, easy-to-read books and guidelines for using…

Annotates a number of books that can help teachers demonstrate for young children the importance of reading. (FL)

Describes ways that both parents and teachers can instill a love of reading in children. (FL)

Explains that if the ability to read in the fullest sense can be fostered from infancy in and out of school, children will grow to be the highly literate society of tomorrow. (DF)

Presents evidence that reading can be learned by the same informal and unstructured methods as speech, and calls for a concentration on slow readers. (CRH)

Discusses factors that foster the development of young voluntary readers. Reviews studies that describe home and school characteristics that encourage voluntary reading and stresses the importance of providing young students with a rich literary environment in the classroom. (FL)

Argues that by encouraging children in their early writing efforts, adults can help them develop into confident and comfortable writers. (FL)

A study investigated the kinds of questions children ask as they encounter written language. Data were gathered over a 7-month period for two boys, one approximately 4, the other approximately 2 years of age. Two types of observation sessions were used: formal story reading times that were audiorecorded, and informal situations where the…