There's SNOW Better Time to Read

Winter is a great time to encourage reading and literacy development. Start a routine of reading with your child before bed every evening.

During early speech and language development, children learn skills that are important to the development of literacy (reading and writing). This stage, known as emergent literacy, begins at birth and continues through the preschool years. Children see and interact with print (e.g., books, magazines, grocery lists) in everyday situations (e.g., home, in preschool, and at daycare) well before they start elementary school.

Gradually, children combine what they know about speaking and listening with what they know about print and become ready to learn to read and write.

You can help your child develop literacy skills during regular activities without adding extra time to your day. There also are things you can do during planned play and reading times. Show your children that reading and writing are a part of everyday life and can be fun and enjoyable. Activities for preschool children include the following:

Engage your child in singing, rhyming games, and nursery rhymes.
Read picture and story books that focus on sounds, rhymes, and alliteration (words that start with the same sound, as found in Dr. Seuss books).
Reread your child's favorite book(s).
Focus your child's attention on books by pointing to words and pictures as you read.
Provide a variety of materials to encourage drawing and scribbling (e.g., crayons, paper, markers, finger paints).
Encourage your child to describe or tell a story about his/her drawing and write down the words.