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Recent Family News

Parents influence literacy in infants

Talking to your baby does much more than just entertain him or her. Experts say parents who speak to their little ones are actually laying the groundwork for literacy and may help give their kids an advantage for when they go to school.

According to Education.com, a 2011 Vanderbilt University study revealed that parental involvement and interest in kids' early literacy activities had a direct and measurable impact on their fourth-grade reading comprehension and word recognition.

One of the best ways to encourage literacy is to talk to your baby, toddler or preschooler a lot. Have conversations with your child, even if you think he or she is too young to understand what you're saying or communicate back. And experts say using "baby talk" or "dumbing down" your language isn't a good idea, no matter how young the child is.

Reading to your child is also crucial to developing literacy skills. As few as five minutes each day gives you much more than just a time to cuddle with him or her. It builds memory skills, language development and helps create a love of books.

"Listening comprehension feeds reading comprehension," author Jim Trelease said in The Read-Aloud Handbook, according to GrowUpReading.org.

Parents who want to read with their kids more often may consider creating an at-home library that contains several books that are age-appropriate for their child. Purchasing used books at a store that specializes in used baby gear and toys, such as Once Upon a Child, can help parents do this without spending a lot of money.
 

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