Building a World of Words: How We Partner to Nurture Your Child's Love for Reading
As early childhood educators, one of the most common questions we hear is, "What can I do to help my child learn to read?" The answer is both simple and profound: read with them.
At our preschool, reading isn't just an activity we do at circle time. It is the thread we weave through every part of our day to build a rich environment of language, learning, and discovery. You are your child's first and most important teacher, and the time you spend reading at home is irreplaceable.
Here is a look at how we use books all day long, and how we can partner together to give your child the greatest gift: a lifelong love for reading.
Reading All Day Long: A Peek Into Our Classroom
When you think of reading at school, you might picture a teacher with a book in front of a circle of children. That is certainly part of it, but literacy learning happens everywhere! We intentionally use books to:
Start Our Day with Stories: Our morning meeting often includes a book that introduces the theme of the day, helps us explore a new letter or sound, or simply brings us together with a fun, shared experience.
Guide Our Learning: Are we learning about construction? We’ll have books like Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site in our block area. Exploring the garden? Planting a Rainbow will be right there with our magnifying glasses. Books become tools for discovery.
Solve Problems and Understand Feelings: If we're having trouble taking turns, a book about sharing can help us understand another's perspective. Reading stories about emotions like anger, sadness, or joy gives children the vocabulary to name and navigate their own big feelings.
Make Transitions Easier: Waiting for everyone to wash their hands for lunch? It’s the perfect time for a short, rhyming book or a fun fingerplay story. Books can turn "waiting time" into "learning time."
Empower Independent Choice: Our cozy book corner is always available. Here, children learn to handle books respectfully, follow a story through pictures, and enjoy the quiet comfort of "reading" on their own terms. This builds confidence and a positive association with books.
The Home-School Partnership: Your Role in Our Shared Story
The magic truly happens when the literacy experiences at school are connected to the warm, nurturing reading you do at home. You provide the comfort and one-on-one connection that is foundational to a child's desire to read.
Here is how we can work together:
You Bring the Snuggles, We Bring the Group Fun: The cozy lap-time reading you do at home is unique. It tells your child that reading is about love and connection. At school, we build on that by making reading a joyful, social experience with peers. Both are vital.
We Ask Questions, You Can Too! In our classroom, we encourage active reading by asking, “What do you think will happen next?” or “How do you think that character feels?” You can do this at home, too! It teaches children to think critically about stories, not just passively listen.
Let Us Know Your Favorites! If your child is obsessed with a particular book about dinosaurs at home, let us know! We can find similar books at school or encourage them to share their "dino expertise" with friends. This validates their interests and bridges their two worlds.
Don't Worry About Perfection: Does your child want to skip pages, only point at pictures, or read the same book ten times in a row? Wonderful! As educators, we see this as active engagement. They are in control and are showing you what interests them. There is no "wrong way" to read a book with a young child.
Talk About the Story: Your conversations are powerful. When you relate a story to your child's life ("Look, that bear is eating strawberries, just like you did!"), you are building comprehension skills that are critical for their future as a reader.
Together, we are not just teaching your child how letters make words. We are showing them that books can transport them to new worlds, help them understand their own, and provide a source of comfort and joy.
Thank you for being our partner in this incredible journey. The five minutes you spend reading on the couch today is building a reader for life.
