HELP ME GROW: I Want to Improve My Child’s Literacy Skills

You are your baby’s first teacher. Every day, your baby is watching your movements. They are watching what you do and copying it. You smile. They smile. Your baby is growing with your support. Everyday interactions help shape a smart child. Early introduction to language helps build reading and writing skills important for a successful future. Here are a few everyday things you can do to help improve your child’s literacy skills.

• Reading: Your baby might not be able to speak but he/she is constantly learning. Your baby will benefit from you talking to them. Your baby is gathering new words and learning how to use them. Start reading to your baby right from birth. Eventually they will grow and learn to read along with you. Read the same book multiple times. Repetition can help your baby remember the words.
• Household Chores: The things that you do every day help build literacy skills. Laundry or cooking can be a perfect opportunity to build new vocabulary. Talk to them while folding shirts and pants. Speak to your baby every day. Create a positive learning atmosphere by including your baby right from birth.
• Trips: A walk inside a grocery store or outside in a park can build literacy skills. Tell your baby what you see. Talk about different fruits and vegetables at the grocery store. Introduce colors of trees and flowers at the park. As your baby grows, he/she will begin to mimic sounds. They will begin to string together words to make sentences.

Learn and engage in activities that support child function. The first 1,000 days of a child’s life is when the most growth happens. When you take the time to teach your child from day one, you support them to have a healthy development. The Help Me Grow 2-1-1 helpline has been developed to ensure that you can connect with the resources to help your child succeed. If you have a question or concern about your child, the program will work directly with you to identify any potential behavioral and educational challenges, and bring you in contact with services, programs and information that can help you.