Books, Toys, and Tips

General Tips

The Parent-Child Home Program’s National Center recommends these books and toys as tools to encourage:

Parent-child interaction

Successful development in young children, and

School-readiness.

These high-quality picture books, recommended for two and three-year-olds, stimulate verbal interaction, expand vocabulary, and reinforce phonemic awareness, the foundations of language and literacy skill development. Look for books that:

Use rhyme or repetition;

Relate to the child’s experience;

Incorporate unusual vocabulary;

Have colorful and appealing illustrations;

Have a narrative with a beginning, middle, and end; and

Have a narrative that can be told in different ways, sometimes using the illustrations only; and/or can appeal to a child at different developmental levels.

Picture vocabulary books, tactile books, life-the-flap books, fairy tales, Mother Goose rhymes, rhyming books, alphabet books, and books that use repetitive or predictable language are some of the books that support young children’s school readiness.

More Resources

Tips for Playing With Your Child

Tips for Reading With Your Child

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