Early Literacy Behaviors

Book Handling Behaviors

Physical handling of books such as page turning.

Looking and Recognizing

How children pay attention to books such as pointing at pictures of familiar objects.

Picture and Story Comprehension

Show a child’s understanding of pictures and stories, or an action seen in a picture.

Story Reading

Verbal interactions with books, such as babbling to imitate reading.

The newest discoveries in neuroscience show that reading aloud actually stimulates the growth of a baby’s brain. An infants brain structure is not genetically determined; early experiences have a decisive impact on the architecture of a baby’s brain. While being read to, many existing connections among brain cells are strengthened. At the same time, new brain cells are formed adding a bit more complexity to the brain’s circuitry that will remain largely in place for the rest of these children’s lives.