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Begin Building Reading Skills with Your Newborn

(NAPSI)-It's hard to read too much into the importance of literacy skills.

Children who read achieve. They boast higher test scores and recognize letters and numbers more often than their peers who read less frequently.

"Parents can set a great example by encouraging reading every day," said Reg Weaver, president of the National Education Association (NEA), which represents 3.2 million teachers and education support professionals. "Being a good reader builds a foundation for academic success and lifelong learning."

To help get kids turning pages, NEA launched Read Across America, which culminates every year on the birthday of beloved children's author Dr. Seuss. Originally created as a one-day event to celebrate the joy of reading, the literacy initiative has grown into a nationwide movement that promotes reading all year long.

This year, more than 45 million participated in Read Across America from coast to coast. NEA's Read Across America offers the following tips to encourage children to read:

• Start Early. Begin sharing books with children during infancy, even as young as 6 weeks old. Also, encourage young children to talk about favorite books and to add new story lines and endings to stories they already know.

• Speak Up. Children who report that their parents encourage them to read are more likely to read a higher volume of books than those who say that their parents leave it up to them.

• Stock Up. Have a supply of newspapers, magazines and books around the house to persuade children to read instead of turning on the television or playing a video game.

• Build Skills. When you read aloud, stop to discuss unfamiliar words and pause to ask questions to help your child predict what is coming next. Ask children about characters in stories and why characters might act the way they do.

• Create Habits. Make reading a daily exercise, and set and reward reading goals. Build enthusiasm by providing a special treat when a reading target is reached. Positive reinforcement can help boost motivation.

"NEA's Read Across America helps to rev up young readers by making it fun," said Weaver.

For more information and tips, visit www.nea.org/readacross.