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Every Child Ready to Read is an early childhood literacy program developed by the American Library Association (ALA). Before children can read, they must develop a range of early literacy skills. Children start to develop early literacy skills beginning at birth. Children who begin school with well-developed early literacy skills have greater success learning to read and generally have greater success throughout their high school careers.

The five early literacy practices to develop early literacy skills are:

• Talking: Children learn about language by listening to parents talk and joining in the conversation. Talking, telling stories, and stretching conversations are ways children learn new information, new vocabulary, and other early literacy skills.
• Singing: Songs are a natural way to learn new language. Singing develops listening skills, slows down language so children can hear the different sounds in words, and helps children learn new words and information.
• Reading: How you share books with your child is important. Reading together with your child develops vocabulary and comprehension, nurtures a love for reading, and motivates children to want to read.
• Writing: Reading and writing go together. Writing helps children understand that written words represent ideas, places, and events. The first steps of writing include making marks, drawing, name writing, word writing.
• Playing: Children learn about language through different kinds of play. Play comes naturally to young children and is one of the primary ways they learn. Pretend and dramatic play develops language skills.