Existing links among brain cells are strengthened and new cells and links are formed. That is why infants' and toddlers' health and nutrition, along with good functioning of the senses, are so important. The opportunity for creating the foundation for reading begins in the earliest years. Given the course of brain development, it is not surprising that young children who are exposed to certain experiences usually prove to be good readers later. By cooing, singing lullabies, or reading aloud to a baby, toddler, or preschooler, parents stimulate their children's developing minds and help build a base for literacy skills.
Wise parents understand that play is the work of children.
Dramatic play can develop vocabulary, concepts and creativity, all part of pre-literacy skill building. Doctors Prescribe Reading Reading aloud to young children is so critical that the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that doctors prescribe reading activities along with other advice given to parents at regular check-ups. Dr. Perri Klass, Medical Director of Reach Out and Read, a national pediatric literacy program involving hundreds of hospitals, clinics, and independent practices, strongly agrees. The 1996 National Household Education Survey, however, found some positive trends involving preschoolers. Fifty-seven percent of children ages 3 to 5 were read to every day by a family member in 1996, up slightly from 53 percent in 1993.