Teach Your Child to Read

Kids usually begin actively reading at age 5 or 6, but learning to read begins long before that -- and the earlier you instill a love of reading in your kid, the better. We tapped our Mom Congress delegates, who advocate for literacy and better education, and other experts to find out how to encourage early literacy skills in your child.

Lose the Baby Talk

"When I think about early literacy, reading doesn't necessarily come to mind although it does play a part," says Mom Congress California delegate Laura Taylor. "To have literate children, you must speak to them. You must speak clearly and directly, just like you would to any other human being. Yes, we've all dissolved into the 'cutesy-wootsey, cutchie cutchie coos' at the sight of an adorable baby, but baby talk need not be the lexicon of your communication with your child."