Look Up and Look Down…Letters, Pictures, Words, Books, Signs, and Print are all around!  In the grocery store, at your home, at the park, and in preschool classrooms, your child is interacting with a universe of reading every day.  In Kindergarten and beyond, your child will soar to great heights in this reading universe.  You can build a strong foundation for reading at home by following the best practice tips below:

1. Read aloud to your child every day: Reading to your child every day will not only build reading skills, but also boost vocabulary and literacy skills, build confidence and independence, broaden the mind, develop empathy, improve writing skills, spark imagination, expand knowledge, and help your child have a longer attention span and better listening skills. Every day counts!
2. Visit the Local Library: Visit your local library for books, reading tips, and reading activities.  Click on the icons below for information about the Broward County Library’s Reading Motivation Program, Beanstack, and the Summer Early Learning Challenge.  Does your child have a libary card?  If not, you can apply online for a FREE Library Card for your child where they can check out books and participate in activities at your local library.                                                                                     CLICK HERE TO APPLY FOR FREE LIBRARY CARD ONLINE.
3. Encourage your child to choose books that interest him or her (even if it is the same book over and over): Children become good readers one book at a time. Having your child choose the books you read during story time will give him or her ownership over reading and connect to his or her areas of interest. Click on the icon below for booklist ideas to support Kindergarten transition and more. 
4. Read and Talk about Everything: When you’re at the grocery store, explain why you pay money for the food, point out words on magazine covers, and discuss what you are buying and how it turns into lunch. Ideas live everywhere you and your child go, and actively engaging in conversation about them will expose your child to more information about the world.
5. Make Reading Fun: Model positive reading behaviors and show your child that you enjoy your time together reading.  Having FUN while reading will reinforce the message that reading is an enjoyable alternative to video games and TV.  Try making up voices for the characters as you read and get into character to act out the story together. Make reading fun!
6. Use rich vocabulary:  Talk about interesting words in books as you read. Pause to explain words that might be new and give examples.  After reading, use the words throughout the day.  Use a wide variety of words when you have conversations with your child.  
7. Be an Alphabet Advocate: Letters and sounds are the building blocks of words and reading.  Practice identifying letter names and sounds with your child.  Model how to write letters for your child and talk about the letters as you write.  Play “I Spy” to find letters around your house and talk about letters everywhere you go.  Have your child play with magnetic letters on the refrigerator and cut letters out of magazines. Yes, letters are all around! 
8. Make Reading Interactive:  As you read books with your child, follow the tips below to make reading interactive before, during and after reading.