The purpose of this Digest is to provide information for family child care providers regarding children's early literacy development. A definition and the characteristics of family child care are discussed in the first part of this Digest. The second half focuses on research-based strategies and recommendations that help support early literacy…

This digest is intended to help parents support young children's literacy learning. It begins with definitions of literacy and then follows with suggestions for parent involvement in children's early literacy development, based on recommendations from the National Reading Panel. It also lists 23 additional resources (organizations, books,…

Emergent and beginning readers demonstrate many predictable behaviors in the kindergarten classroom, yet every child is making sense out of print in his or her own way. The job of the kindergarten teacher is to help each child to continue developing as a reader and writer. Reading and writing materials are accessible and usable throughout a…