Parents and caregivers are a child’s first and most important teachers. Five simple early learning activities can help a child be ready to read: talking, singing, reading, writing and playing.

When you share these activities with young children, you’re helping them develop the early literacy skills (or reading readiness skills) children need to learn to read. The six early literacy skills are:

• Vocabulary
• Print Motivation
• Print Awareness
• Phonological Awareness
• Letter Knowledge
• Narrative Skills

Using Every Child Ready to Read, a research-based initiative of the Public Library Association and Association for Library Service to Children, Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh supports parents and caregivers in finding learning opportunities in everyday interactions. The five activities are fun and adaptable while also preparing children for reading and school success.