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Reading Opportunities 0-3

Reading Opportunities 0-3

Adult and young child laughing together while reading a newspaper

Why provide an abundance of reading material?

With lots of reading materials available, children are encouraged to read. When children see adults reading, they learn the importance of reading.

How to Provide Opportunities to Read

Make connections for your child.

Have a variety of reading materials around the house every day.

  • Provide lots of reading material in your home that your child can access. This encourages learning in your home.
  • Read books and other digital and print resources to your children. This will help them gain skills needed throughout their lives.
  • Start building a home library by visiting garage sales, thrift stores, and library giveaways.

Surround your child with books.

Having an abundance of books in the home shows reading is important.

  • Read different kinds of materials together and talk about their purpose.
  • Find a quiet, cozy spot to read together with your child.
  • Make reading time a fun part of your routine and encourage your child to try new kinds of books and materials.

Make a reading nook.

Having an abundance of books in the home shows reading is important.

  • Read different kinds of materials together and talk about their purpose.
  • Find a quiet, cozy spot to read together with your child.
  • Make reading time a fun part of your routine and encourage your child to try new kinds of books and materials.

Model reading.

When adults value reading, children learn to value reading too.

  • Have your child see you reading for pleasure and purpose. For example:
    • Show your child how you read a recipe when cooking a new dish.
    • Let your child see you reading a magazine or a novel, or even the back of a cereal box.
    • Talk with your child about what you read and what you are learning as you read.

For more information

The contents of this page were developed for the Michigan Department of Education under a grant from the U.S. Department of Education through the Office of Program and Grantee Support Services (PGSS) within the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education (OESE), by the Region 8 Comprehensive Center at ICF under Award #S283B190013 in September 2021. This contains resources that are provided for the reader’s convenience. These materials may contain the views and recommendations of various subject matter experts as well as hypertext links, contact addresses, and websites to information created and maintained by other public and private organizations. The U.S. Department of Education does not control or guarantee the accuracy, relevance, timeliness, or completeness of any outside information included in these materials. The views expressed herein do not necessarily represent the positions or policies of the U.S. Department of Education. No official endorsement by the U.S. Department of Education of any product, commodity, service, enterprise, curriculum, or program of instruction mentioned in this document is intended or should be inferred.