This article is reprinted from the website of the National Network
for Child Care.*
This issue brief provides a detailed look at the latest findings about how
children learn from their first years. It emphasizes that reading to kids is
not just a traditional form of care giving, but vital to children's development
in school and later life. It outlines best practices for promoting literacy,
including encouraging children to explore books, particularly those that have
bright colors, and making reading part of a child's routine.
Publisher: Maine Children (January 2009)
*The National Network for Child Care unites the expertise of many
of the nation's leading universities through the outreach system of Cooperative
Extension. Our goal is to share knowledge about children and child care from
the vast resources of the landgrant universities with parents, professionals,
practitioners, and the general public. We network with committed individuals
around the country to bring you practical information and resources that will
be useful to you in your everyday work with children.
Cooperative Extension has an 80 year history of working in
the areas of child care and early childhood development. Our outreach efforts
strongly impact international, national, state, and local efforts. We teach and
work in almost every county (approximately 3150) in the US.
National Network for Child Care is supported by the Cooperative
State Research, Education and Extension Service, U.S. Department of
Agriculture, and CYFERNet - the Cooperative Extension System's Children, Youth,
and Family Network.