Did you know your child starts developing reading skills long before they open their first book? From birth to preschool, kids are absorbing language, rhythm, and vocabulary—laying the foundation for a lifetime of reading success. But what should you be doing during this stage? And how can you support your child’s learning without pressure or overwhelm?
In this episode of the Engaging Reluctant Readers Podcast, Ellen Westbrook breaks down key early literacy milestones, how to spot potential struggles, and simple, playful ways to help your child fall in love with books from the very beginning.
Whether your child is just starting to babble or beginning to recognize letters, this episode is your parent-friendly guide to making early literacy fun, natural, and effective.
What You’ll Learn:
☑️ Why early literacy is crucial—and starts way before kindergarten
☑️ Key milestones from birth to age 5 (and how to support them!)
☑️ What phonemic awareness is—and why it matters
☑️ Fun, low-pressure ways to build early literacy through play and routines
☑️ How to recognize red flags and what to do if your child needs extra support
⏳ Key Episode Highlights:
[00:01:28] Why early literacy matters
[00:03:27] What the science of reading says about phonics and sound awareness
[00:03:58] The power of everyday language exposure
[00:04:28] Literacy milestones from babyhood through preschool
[00:10:27] Boosting literacy through play & storytime
[00:20:25] Signs of early reading struggles
[00:23:01] When to seek extra support and how to trust your gut
[00:24:01] It’s not about speed—it’s about loving the journey
[00:24:31] Preview of Part 2: Elementary reading milestones and support tips
📖 Prefer to Read? Full blog post: https://engagingreluctantreaders.com/2025/05/08/early-literacy-for-parents/
📺 Prefer to Watch? YouTube video version: https://youtu.be/jnm5rfyLDVs
✨ FREEBIE ALERT!
Grab your Reading Bucket List Bundle with 164 creative reading ideas!
📥 Get it here → https://engagingreluctantreaders.m-pages.com/bucketlistbundle
Grab your Motivating Reluctant Readers Guide today --> https://engagingreluctantreaders.m-pages.com/GUIDE
🎧Love the podcast? Hit the 5⭐to leave a rating & review!
It helps get this podcast out in front of more moms that need to hear it, so we can help more reluctant readers learn to love books and put an end to the nightly battles around reading!
Resources:
Follow on Instagram
Join the Engaging Reluctant Readers Tribe (Facebook Group)
✨ Grab your Book Nook Starter Kit today!
✨ Grab your Reading Bucket List Bundle today!
Popular Podcasts
Las Culturistas with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang
Ding dong! Join your culture consultants, Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang, on an unforgettable journey into the beating heart of CULTURE. Alongside sizzling special guests, they GET INTO the hottest pop-culture moments of the day and the formative cultural experiences that turned them into Culturistas. Produced by the Big Money Players Network and iHeartRadio.
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.
The Brothers Ortiz
The Brothers Ortiz is the story of two brothers–both successful, but in very different ways. Gabe Ortiz becomes a third-highest ranking officer in all of Texas while his younger brother Larry climbs the ranks in Puro Tango Blast, a notorious Texas Prison gang. Gabe doesn’t know all the details of his brother’s nefarious dealings, and he’s made a point not to ask, to protect their relationship. But when Larry is murdered during a home invasion in a rented beach house, Gabe has no choice but to look into what happened that night. To solve Larry’s murder, Gabe, and the whole Ortiz family, must ask each other tough questions.