As you continue to read aloud to your child, he will begin gathering all types of information about language.  Reading is a storehouse for vocabulary, context, grammar, syntax, and the different meanings of language.  Children assimilate information to use as they mature.  Reading books to your young child is a simple yet effective way to give him an early advantage in language development.  The reason this is important is that early language development and reading skills are related.

Language skills are the building blocks or foundation for reading.  Extensive research shows that there is a correlation between early speech/language problems and reading difficulties.  The earlier these problems are diagnosed and dealt with, the greater chance the child has to succeed at school.  Math, science, and social studies rely on reading for information gathering and processing.  In the early years, we are learning to read, but as children go into the second and third grades, they are reading to learn. They are reading to gain information in all subject areas.

An evaluation of children as young as 12 -18 months can reveal possible language problems.  Speech therapy for these children has been shown to reap great rewards for future development and reading success.

If you are concerned about your child’s language development or reading, you should contact a professional in the area of reading and language.  ACCESS specializes in assisting young children who need extra help in gaining the skills necessary to succeed.  Contact Beth at 501.217.8600 for an evaluation today.

At ACCESS Schools, we integrate children’s literature into our core curriculum as the center of our language and development.  Books allow children to use their imagination and enjoy a good story.  It also provides the opportunity to explore science, social studies, vocabulary and social skills. Below are “just a few” of the books that we use.