Everything is new and tender here. Your child is planting the very first seeds. Learning that sounds have shapes, that letters have voices, that books hold stories. This is the beginning of everything.
They enjoy being read to but aren't reading words on their own yet
They can name some letters, especially in their own name
They might try to "read" by looking at pictures
They're learning that words are made of sounds
Rhymes and silly word play make them laugh
They can follow along as you point to words while reading
Being read to is the single most powerful thing at this stage. It builds vocabulary, story sense, and a love of books before a single word is decoded.
Rhyming, clapping syllables, silly tongue twisters. Phonological awareness is the invisible foundation reading is built on.
Start with letters that feel personal: their name, a sibling's name, a favorite word. Meaning makes letters stick.
This season is about wonder, not performance. A child who loves books is already becoming a reader.
"Every reader starts exactly here."
There is no rush at this stage. Children grow into reading the same way seeds become trees: in their own season, with the right conditions. Your job is to tend, not to push.
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Start with Sound Spotter. A free, playful way to build the sound awareness every reader needs first.
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