The first time I read to Ironflower, I teared up, I was so happy to finally be reading to my little girl. She was three days old. I think I started reading to the boys even before I got home from the hospital. And even though she and Lovebug now can and do read extremely well on their own, I still read to them most nights. I feel like most parents know they should read to their kids every night, but that doesn't have to be the only way parents can help their kids with literacy.
- Have rich conversations. Even if your little one can't respond verbally yet, s/he is paying attention to what you say. So narrate your day. Use big words. Encourage toddlers and preschoolers to ask what new words mean.
- Share the alphabet. I'm not a big fan of flashcards for young children (especially babies), but that doesn't mean I don't think they should be introduced to the alphabet. Sing the ABC song, point out letters on signs, read them alphabet books and so on.
- Rhyme. Rhyming is one part of phonemic awareness, a key component of reading skill. When repeating directions, try rhyming some of the words ("Give me a hug, bug!"). With preschoolers, play "I Spy", but instead of using colors, say, "I spy with my little eye something that rhymes with ____".
- Label pictures. When your little one proudly points to his scribbles and announces that it's actually a picture of your mother-in-law, carefully write "Grandma" on the page. As your kiddo grows, so will his descriptions. Eventually you'll be writing down entire stories for him!
- Play with the alphabet. Magnetic letters, alphabet puzzles and board books may not be much fun to step on (though they're all better than Legos, trust me), but they are great for familiarizing kids with the alphabet.
- Encourage imaginative play. Play pretend with your kiddo - let her be the server, or the doctor, or the super hero princess and join in her story. Alphabet apps and web sites can be great for preschoolers and up (Starfall.com is an excellent free site), but imaginative play will do more for her than any app.
Resources that back up what I'm saying, but that I did not actually cite in my post because all this information lives in my head (told you I'm obsessed with reading):