Children develop at their own pace both physically and intellectually, although not too far off from one another. As with stages in childhood, reading too has its own steps.
Somewhere between the ages of three and five, children begin displaying an interest in reading and books, primarily focusing on print. Preconventional readers tend to flock to stories containing the three Rs -- rhythm, rhyme and repetition. While they are not actually reading, they enjoy participating along with the story as it is being read aloud. These readers want to turn pages of books, admiring illustrations. Many at this stage recognize their name, know the names of letters, and have an interest in traffic signs, logos and the like.
Such readers are at the very beginning of this exciting literary journey, known as early literacy, so what can parents do to encourage their child's development?
