Early Literacy Resources for Parents and Caregivers

The development of language and literacy skills begins at birth. Children develop much of their capacity for learning in the first three years of life; therefore, the role of parents and caregivers is critical. The library encourages caregivers to talk, read, write, sing, and play with young children as this will help them enter school ready to learn and succeed later in life.

Follow the HCPL Media Mentor Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hcplmediamentors/ for book recommendations, early literacy tips, app suggestions, and more.

Developmental Tips and Literacy Resources

• Center for Early Literacy Learning
• Colorin Colorado: Helping Children Read and Succeed
• Developmental Milestones from CDC
• Healthy Beginnings: from Maryland State Department of Education
• Maryland Families Engagement
• Talking is Teaching
• Zero to Three: Ages and Stages

Local Resources

• Abilities Network: Seeing Abilities, Not Disabilities
• The Family Tree: Providing Solutions. Preventing Child Abuse.
• Infants and Toddlers: Harford County Health Department
• LOCATE: Child Care (a computerized resource and referral database that contains information on all regulated child care in the state of Maryland).
• Maryland Family Network

Nursery Rhymes, Songs, and Activities

• Baby Center: Weekly Activities for your baby’s first year
• Bedtime Math
• Free Activities from Gryphon House, Award Winning Publisher of Early Childhood Resources
• Healthy Children: 10 No-Cost, Screen-Free Activities to Play with Your Preschooler
• Maryland Day by Day Family Literacy Activity Calendar
• Monthly Activity Calendars from Reading is Fundamental
• Storyblocks: Colorado Libraries for Early Literacy
• Storyplace: The Children’s Digital Library
• The Real Mother Goose
• Vroom Tips

Media Mentorship

• American Academy of Pediatrics - Family Media Plan
• Healthy Children: Healthy Digital Media Use Habits for Babies, Toddlers & Preschoolers
• Kidmap: DIG Checklist for Inclusive, High-Quality Children’s Media
• The Fred Rogers Center Statement on Digital Media