Every Child Ready to Read

Clarington Public Library is your partner in getting your child ready to read!
 
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.

Visit one of our great story times based on the Every Child Ready to Ready literacy practices. We have programs for ages from birth to preschool! See our children's program calendar for dates, times and locations.
 
The five early literacy practices used in our children's programs 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.
When you talk with your child: 

• Use new words
• Take turns talking
• Make connections.

Singing
Songs are a natural way to learn about language.
Singing: 

• Develops listening skills
• Slows down language so children can hear the different sounds in words
• 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
• Motivates children to want to learn 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.