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Emergent

Evidence Snapshot for Parents and Caregivers

Helping your preschooler learn to read and succeed in school

Date added: April 17, 2026

Simple, everyday interactions (i.e., talking, reading, and playing) build strong literacy skills.

Why it matters

Early literacy skills help children learn to read and succeed in school
Children learn best through talking, reading, and playing with adults

What you can do

Talk with your child throughout the day
Read together and discuss the story
Teach and repeat new words
Play games with sounds, rhymes, and letters
Encourage drawing and early writing

Everyday learning ideas

Describe what your child is doing during play
Ask questions like “What happens next?”
Use daily routines (e.g., meals, errands) to build vocabulary
Add simple reading/writing items to play (e.g., menus, lists, signs)

What to watch for

Limited conversation or shared reading time
Too much passive screen time
Only focusing on memorizing letters (instead of sounds and meaning)

Supporting your child

Repeat and model language often
Use visuals and gestures when helpful
Break activities into small steps
Keep learning fun and play-based

The takeaway

Simple, everyday interactions (i.e., talking, reading, and playing) build strong literacy skills. Over time, these small moments add up, helping your child grow into a confident and capable reader.

The information provided in this summary is based on findings from Integration of Emergent Literacy Instruction Across Classroom Activities: A Systematic Review.

MAIN resource

A systematic review of research related to literacy instruction for preschool-aged children.

The information provided in this summary is based on findings from Emergent Literacy Instruction Across Classroom Activities

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Adults can and do improve their reading with good instruction and steady support.

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Children become stronger readers when they also write regularly—and vice versa.

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Helping Your Student Talk Through Texts to Build Understanding

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Adolescent Literacy Motivation for Grades 4-9

When students want to read, they read more—and when they read more, their skills grow.

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Helping Your Child Understand What They Read

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Supporting Your Student's Reading Comprehension

Ask questions, talk about ideas, and encourage regular reading to support a student's comprehension.

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Academic Vocabulary Instruction in K-3

Building vocabulary gives children the language they need to think, learn, and succeed.

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Supporting Your Child’s Reading in Science, History, and More

Helping your student build reading, writing, and thinking skills will support their learning.

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Helping Your Child Learn Phonics

Strong phonics skills are the foundation for strong reading skills.

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Multisyllabic Reading, Grades 4-9

Success with reading longer words takes time, practice, and support outside the classroom.

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Helping your preschooler learn to read and succeed in school

Why it matters

What you can do

Everyday learning ideas

What to watch for

Supporting your child

The takeaway

MAIN resource

More Evidence Snapshots for Parents and Caregivers

Modeling Literacy Skills with Your Preschooler

Talking, storytelling, books, and building vocabulary all provide valuable language experiences.

Helping Your Family Member Grow Their Literacy Skills

Adults can and do improve their reading with good instruction and steady support.

Helping Your Preschooler Build Oral Language and Vocabulary

Talking, singing, and playing help build language skills that help young children learn to read.

Helping Your Preschooler Develop Print Awareness

Talking, reading, and playing with print every day helps your child build reading skills.

Helping Your Student Build Knowledge

Students build knowledge of the world through content-rich materials and teaching.

Making the Reading-Writing Connection in Grades K-3

Children become stronger readers when they also write regularly—and vice versa.

Supporting Students' Reading Fluency Outside the Classroom

Parents and caregivers can help students improve their reading fluency.

Helping Your Student Talk Through Texts to Build Understanding

Text-based discussion is a powerful way to help a student become a stronger thinker and reader.

Adolescent Literacy Motivation for Grades 4-9

When students want to read, they read more—and when they read more, their skills grow.

Helping Your Child Understand What They Read

Reading comprehension means your child can understand, remember, and talk about what they read.

Supporting Your Student's Reading Comprehension

Ask questions, talk about ideas, and encourage regular reading to support a student's comprehension.

Academic Vocabulary Instruction in K-3

Building vocabulary gives children the language they need to think, learn, and succeed.

Supporting Your Child’s Reading in Science, History, and More

Helping your student build reading, writing, and thinking skills will support their learning.

Helping Your Child Learn Phonics

Strong phonics skills are the foundation for strong reading skills.

Multisyllabic Reading, Grades 4-9

Success with reading longer words takes time, practice, and support outside the classroom.

Helping Your Child Read by Learning Sounds

Phonological and phonemic awareness are critical for learning to read and spell.

More Emergent Literacy Resources

Supporting Phonological and Phonemic Awareness in Preschool

Effective Reading Interventions for Adult Literacy Learners

Oral Language and Vocabulary Instruction for Preschoolers

Supporting Print Awareness in Preschool Instruction

Emergent Literacy Instruction Across Classroom Activities

Effective Reading Fluency Interventions for Students in Grades 4-9

The Effects of Vocabulary Instruction for Adolescent Learners

Reading-Writing Connection: Integrated Literacy Instruction in K-3

Content-Rich Interventions on Reading Outcomes in Grades K-3

Text-Based Discussion Intervention Outcomes for Adolescent Readers

Adolescent Motivation and Engagement in Literacy Learning

Foundational Reading Comprehension Interventions for K-3 Students

Adolescent Reading Comprehension Instruction and Intervention

The Effects of Academic Vocabulary Knowledge Interventions

Review of Disciplinary Literacy Research on Adolescent Readers

Oral Fluency Interventions for K-3 Students

A Review of K-3 Phonics Practices or Interventions

Multisyllabic Word Reading Interventions for Grades 4-9 Students

Phonological and Phonemic Awareness Interventions