Learning how to use books

I know that it sounds really strange, but children need to be taught how to use a book.  I have been asked many times when a parent should start reading to their child and when they should teach their child about books.  The answer to this is as soon as your child is born. (or earlier...it is a great idea to read to your child when you are pregnant!) Here are some tips for what to teach your child:
1. What the front cover is
2.  What the back cover is
3. Where the spine is
4. How to turn pages
5. what pages are
6. What words and letters are
7. Tracking from left to right when reading

This isn't something that you need to sit down and quiz your child on everytime you read a book.  This is something that you should work into your reading time and make it fun. 

To help your child succeed, you can:
* Let your child feel the book's cover, pages and pictures and TALK about them
* Use sturdy cardboard books with thick pages so your child can turn the pages
* Have your child point to pictures in the book (can you find the mouse?  where is the tree? etc.)

To make this activity more challenging, you can:
* Have your child show you how to turn pages from right to left
* Point to the parts of the book and ask your child what they are
* Ask your child to point to a picture, a word, a letter (not specific words like "a" or "an" just a word or     a letter) (Show me a picture.  Show me a letter.  Show me a word.  Show me a period.  etc.)

If you are reading to an infant, you can point to a picture and describe it to them.  "Look at the green frog.  A frog says, 'Ribbit.'"

Please remember that the number one way to teach early literacy skills to your child is by talking to them!  The more you talk, the more they learn!