Did you know that the roots of reading and writing begin long before children enter school? The everyday experiences your child has in the early years-like talking about what he did today or dictating a caption for the picture she drew-are very important to later development in reading and writing. This booklet gives you many simple, enjoyable ideas for using these experiences to help your child get ready to read. Discover how you can model important literacy habits for your child. Learn how reading stories, singing songs, and saying silly rhymes that your child loves all make your child aware of the sounds of words-an important skill in learning to read and write. And, find out how to make your home a showcase for reading and writing by providing inexpensive materials that encourage literacy and by showing your child the many ways reading and writing are used in everyday life. By including a wide variety of language and print experiences in your family routines, you can prepare your child not only to be successful at reading and writing but also to enjoy using these skills for a lifetime