Parent
Resources
Reading, talking, and connecting with your child daily has been show to dramatically improve language skills and set your child up for success in school.
Get More Books with Imagination Library of Colorado
Imagination Library of Colorado provides free, brand new, age-appropriate books by mail each month for Colorado children ages 0-5. This program is now available for most Colorado zip codes.
Resourcesfor all ages
Tips
- Books are an important part of family life and routines (naptime, bedtime, bath time).
- Look for funny books with rhymes and silly pictures.
- Your child understands books and stories, and they help him learn about the world.
- As new skills develop, your child finds new ways to share books.
Tips
- Books are a tool for hearing your voice and listening to language.
- Your baby cries, coos and babbles to tell you different needs and wants.
- Your baby begins to reach or roll for objects.
- Your baby may put books in their mouth.
resources
Tips
- Your baby may point with one finger to indicate interest in a picture.
- Your baby hands you a book when he wants to hear a story.
- Your baby can listen to a story.
- Your baby speaks 1-2 words.
resources
Tips
- Your toddler has a growing vocabulary.
- Your toddler explores alone but wants you to be close.
- Your toddler refers to “I” or “me” more often.
- Your toddler corrects you if you change a word in a book she knows.
resources
Tips
- Imaginary games (e.g., dolls) are increasing.
- Your toddler may not sit still to listen to a whole book. That is okay!
- Your toddler is starting to include other children in play and games.
- Your toddler knows the correct sound for animals (e.g., cat meows).
resources
Tips
- Your child engages in fantasy play.
- Your child can sing songs or recites poems from memory.
- Your child can name four colors.
- Your child can guess what he thinks is going to happen next in a book.
resources
Tips
- Your child has knowledge of the alphabet and numbers.
- Your child is curious.
- Your child may re-tell stories and memorize her favorite books.
- Your child can read to you—but don’t stop reading to them, and enjoy taking turns.
resources
Tips
- It is never too early to start sharing books.
- Read anything and everything out loud (a bus sign, a newspaper, a recipe, etc.)
- By week 24, your baby recognizes—and is calmed by—your voice.
- At week 26, your baby’s eyes open and close.
resources
Literacy & Learning Activities
Explore a curated collection of helpful reading-related activities for children.
Recommended
Children's Books
Please enjoy Reach Out and Read Colorado’s book recommendations for the “littles” in your life, broken out by age from birth to 18.
We’ll be refreshing these titles every quarter, so be sure to check back!
Family For the Win
A text message-based service, Family FTW delivers a new activity or resource for families — like story time videos, whole family activities, and self-care resources for caregivers, in English and Spanish. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed with information right now, so we’re offering a single bite-sized, fun activity via text for families to enjoy two times a week.
Literacy & Learning Activities
Explore a curated collection of helpful reading-related activities for children.
