Introduction

How Infants and Young Children Learn

How to Support Your Child's Language Development

Getting Your Child Ready to Read

How to Keep Your Child Healthy and Safe

What You Need to Know if Your Child Has Special Needs

Federally Funded Research on Spanish-English Biliteracy

How Infants and Young Children Learn

Commonly Asked Questions

How does my child's physical and mental progress compare to other children of the same age, and what can I do to help him progress?

» reaches for book
» book to mouth
» sits in lap, head steady
» turns pages with adult help


» looks at pictures
» vocalizes, pats pictures
» prefers pictures of faces


» hold child comfortably; face-to-face gaze
» follow baby's cues for "more" and "stop"
» point and name pictures






» sits without support
» may carry book
» holds book with help
» turns board pages, several at a time


» no longer mouths right away
» points at pictures with one finger
» may make same sound for particualr picture (labels)
» points when asked "where's...?"
» turns book right side up
» gives book to adult to read


» respond to child's propting to read
» let the child control the book
» be comfortable with toddler's short attention span
» ask "where's the...?" and let child point






» turns board book pages easily, one at a time
» carries book around house
» may use book as transitional object


» names familiar pictures
» fills in words in familiar stories
» "reads" to dolls or stuffed animals
» recites parts of well-known stories
» attention span highly variable


» relate books to child's experiences
» use books in routines, bedtimes
» ask "what's that?" and give child time to answer
» pause and let child complete the sentence







» learns to handle paper pages
» goes back and forth in books to find favorite pictures


» recites whole phrases, sometimes whole stories
» coordinates text with picture
» protests when adult gets a word wrong in a familiar story
» reads familiar books to self


» keep using books in routines
» read at bedtime
» be willing to read same story over and over
» ask "what's that?"
» relate books to child's experiences
» provide crayons and paper






» competent book handling
» turns paper pages one at a time


» listens to longer stories
» can retell familiar story
» understands what text is
» moves finger along text
» "writes" name
» moves toward letter recognition


» ask "what's happening?"
» encourage writing and drawing
» let child tell the story

Source: Reprinted with permission from the Reach Out and Read National Center

PDF Format (English)

PDF Format (Spanish)

Additional questions

What can I do to provide good learning conditions for my young child?

What should I do if my child is not developing at the same speed as most other children from the same age group?