We care deeply about sharing resources directly with parents. Below, you can find some resources that we find to be particularly useful. We hope to be expanding this list often!
Language & Literacy
PBS Parents: https://www.pbs.org/parents/learn-grow/all-ages/literacy
Activities to Encourage Speech and Language Development: The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) has provided age-appropriate ways that parents can engage their young children to help develop speech and language abilities. http://www.asha.org/public/speech/development/parent-stim-activities.htm
Shared Storybook Reading: Research has shown that using responsive strategies during story time can boost children’s early literacy success. This handout includes 11 tips to build children’s language skills.
http://archive.brookespublishing.com/newsletters/downloads/11Tips.pdf
Books Build Connections Toolkit: Find information about the benefits of promoting early literacy and early learning for children and what you can do about it in the Books Build Connections Toolkit.
https://littoolkit.aap.org/Pages/home.aspx
Everyday Steps to Reading and Writing: On the road to becoming readers and writers, young children need many opportunities to hear and understand spoken language. This helps them become aware of the different sounds of language.
https://families.naeyc.org/node/14
Early Childhood Language and Literacy Development Articles: Helpful information for parents and professionals from the Hanen Centre, a not-for-profit, early childhood resource and information center.
http://www.hanen.org/Helpful-Info/Articles/
Verbs Pave the Way for Language Development: Verbs are very important for language development because they allow children to start building early sentences.
http://www.hanen.org/Helpful-Info/Articles/Verbs-Pave-the-Way-for-Language-Development.aspx
How to Build Language and Literacy Through Powerful Conversations: Here are ten specific strategies you can apply during conversations to build the key skills your child needs to learn, like vocabulary, critical thinking, reading comprehension and print knowledge.
http://www.hanen.org/Helpful-Info/Articles/How-to-Build-Language-and-Literacy-Through-Powerfu.aspx
Great blogs to read:
The Surgeon Who Became An Activist For Baby Talk (NPR) https://www.npr.org/sections/ed/2015/09/14/437515492/the-surgeon-who-became-an-activist-for-baby-talk
The Missing Piece: Discovering the Joy in Parent-Child Reading (Huffington Post) https://www.huffpost.com/entry/the-missing-piece-discove_b_5955860
Kindness Vs. Cruelty: Helping Kids Hear The Better Angels Of Their Nature (NPR)