The Very Ready Reading Program: 7 ways to get kids ready for reading

For kids, play is serious learning. That means storytimes are both fun and active learning! Every library-led program for early learners rests on the foundation of the research-based Very Ready Reading Program, which offers seven ways to immerse kids in early literacy and reading readiness.

Those seven ways are sharing books, songs, stories, words, rhymes, sounds, and play. You can build these into your daily routines and conversations by sharing one of these seven every day. By keeping them in mind, you can help your child on the path to reading when they’re older.

It’s never too early to start sharing these, either. You can start all of these from day one, day one hundred, or however old your child is today! For example:

• When children are used to hearing new words and know-how stories are told, reading books won’t be so overwhelming when they start school.
• By using the words and stories all around us instead of flashcards, you will give your kids a better foundation to become readers when they are ready.

Looking for ideas on how to build these into things you already do every day?

1. Sign up for Early Bird Reader weekly texts.
2. Share our Early Bird Learning videos.
3. Check out these ideas in our Very Ready Reading Program tutorial below.