The first few years of your child’s life are an incredible time for growth and learning! Even before they can speak, babies are absorbing language and learning about the world through sight, sound and interaction.
By taking small steps each day, you can foster early literacy and create meaningful moments with your child.
The best part? You don’t need fancy equipment or complicated techniques. Just your time, love and a few free resources like Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, Reach Out and Read and your local library.
What is Early Literacy?
Early literacy is all about building a foundation for future learning. It’s the stage where young children are exposed to language and books in ways that help them develop skills like listening, speaking and recognizing letters long before they can read.
Through shared reading, singing, talking and play, children learn vocabulary, grammar and the joy of storytelling. Ready to get started? Here are six free and simple ways to introduce literacy to your little one.
1. Read Aloud to Your Child Every Day
Reading aloud is one of the most impactful ways to boost early literacy. It’s never too early to start—even newborns benefit from hearing your voice and seeing books come to life.
Hot Tips for Reading Aloud:
Choose age-appropriate books: Children’s ability to understand concepts grows as they age, so it’s important to match books to your child’s developmental stage. For infants and toddlers, look for sturdy board books with simple text and colorful pictures. Babies love textures and bright colors! As your child grows, look for books that match their developmental stage. Here is a great resource to help you find the right book for your child.
Use expressions: Add funny voices, animal sounds, props and big facial expressions to bring stories to life. Kids love exaggerated storytelling!
Build a routine: Set aside a few minutes every day for reading—before bed is a great time to help your child wind down with a book.
Watch: How to Read Aloud to Your Child for tips on making storytime engaging.
2. Sign Up for Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library
Imagine receiving a new, age-appropriate book in the mail every month—for free! Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library mails high-quality books to children under five, helping families build a love of reading.
Getting Started:
Visit the website: Go to Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library to check if your area is eligible.
Enroll for free books: Once registered, you’ll receive a new book each month, selected specifically for your child’s age.
Celebrate “book day”: Make each book delivery special by reading it together as a family.
3. Enjoy Reach Out and Read at Doctor Visits
Did you know some pediatricians prescribe books? Reach Out and Read is a national program providing free books at pediatric check-ups and encouraging families to read together.
How It Works:
Ask your pediatrician: Check if your child’s doctor participates in Reach Out and Read.
Get free books: Receive a free, age-appropriate book at each well-child visit.
Follow expert advice: Pediatricians can give you tips on how to incorporate reading and language-building into your daily routine.
Looking for a participating pediatrician? You can find a Reach Out and Read provider here.
4. Visit Your Local Library
Oklahoma Libraries are treasure troves of free resources, offering storytime events, book loans and family-friendly programs. Many even provide digital resources for learning at home.
How to Get Started:
Find your local branch: Use the Oklahoma Department of Libraries website to find the closest library to you.
Join storytime: Attend interactive sessions where children can listen to stories, sing and play together.
Check out books regularly: Help your child get their own library card and make frequent visits to keep reading fresh and exciting.
5. Sing Songs and Recite Rhymes
Songs, nursery rhymes and poems are more than fun—they’re powerful literacy tools! Rhyming patterns and repetitive lyrics help build language skills and memory.
Ideas to Incorporate Music & Rhymes:
Make it part of daily life: Sing or play music while dressing your child, cleaning around the house or during meals.
Introduce classic nursery rhymes: “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star” and “Itsy Bitsy Spider” are great places to start.
Use YouTube for inspiration: Channels like Super Simple Songs offer fun, educational songs you can enjoy with your kids.
6. Narrate Your Day and Have Conversations
By narrating daily activities, you’re exposing them to new words, language patterns, and the basics of conversation—even if they’re too young to respond!
Ideas for Everyday Conversations:
Narrate activities: Describe what you’re doing. Say things like, “Now, we’re putting on your shoes,” or “Look at the big red car!” For older children, describing your thoughts and feelings allows them to begin learning vocabulary for expressing their own feelings.
Ask questions and pause: Pause and wait for your child to respond, even if it’s just a smile or babble. For older children, pausing allows them time to respond and try out new sentence structures and words.
Use rich vocabulary: Don’t shy away from big words. Children learn through listening and will begin to understand meanings over time.
Small Steps for Big Growth
Building early literacy is about weaving simple, joyful practices into your daily life. From reading aloud to singing and exploring free resources, these small actions lay the foundation for a lifelong love of learning.
Start today by checking out programs like Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, visiting your local library or adding a favorite song to your routine. Your child’s journey to literacy begins with you!
Resources at a Glance: