Success By 6

Success By 6 is committed to ensuring a foundation of success for young children.  Early childhood education is recognized by social scientists as critical to economic independence. Helping the next generation break the cycle of poverty begins by giving children a better start in life.

Early Literacy

Why it Matters

Early language and literacy (reading and writing) development begins in the first three years of life and is closely linked to a child’s earliest experiences with books and stories.  The interactions that young children have with such literacy materials as books, paper and crayons, and the adults in their lives are the building blocks for language, reading and writing development.  This relatively new understanding of early literacy development complements the current research supporting the critical role of early experiences in shaping brain development.
 ( from www.zerotothree.org/BrainWonders)

Early Childhood Stats
Compiled from Early Literacy: Policy and Practice in the Preschool Years NIEER (2006)

• More than half of population surveyed was unaware that family income is the best predictor of whether or not a child will succeed in school.  They were not aware that nearly half of the children from low-income families begin first grade up to two years behind their peers from higher income families. 

• Three fourths of Americans were unaware that about 60% of low income parents do not own age appropriate books for their children.

• Literacy development starts early in life and is highly correlated with school achievement.  

• Children’s experiences with books and print greatly influence their ability to comprehend what they read. 

• Shared book reading experiences have a special role in fostering early literacy development. 

• The amount of different words children hear by age three is directly related to how well children can read at age 9.