Deschutes Public Library

Research has proven over and over that the single most important activity a parent can do with a child is read aloud.

Snuggling with your child while reading a story helps brain development and bonding, and results in print motivation, the enjoyment of books. Reading aloud also helps your child with print awareness, the early literacy skill that means understanding how a book works, and that print is what we read.

What can you do?

• Read about things that fascinate your child, such as trucks or fairies or worms. This helps them increase their knowledge, as well as teach them that answers can be found in books.
• Attend storytime at the library, where you’ll be introduced to the best books.
• Give books as gifts on special days.
• Read aloud for a total of at least 20 minutes every day, right from birth.
• Be sure your child sees you read what you like, too.
• Make sure books are in easy reach for your child.
• Use books to teach the alphabet, which is letter knowledge, another early literacy skill. Choose a letter of the day, such as B, and read about bears and bees. Read about bubbles while your child is in the bath, and a bedtime story at the end of the day.