HOW WE HELP CHILDREN
PLAY & LEARN PROGRAM
Delivered in Pre-K classrooms, this intensive but fun series of early literacy training sessions develops a child’s skills through reading, singing, activities, and play. According to the American Academy of pediatrics, these activities engage all the senses and effectively improve language, literacy, social and emotional skills. At the end of every second session, children receive a new book to take home and parents are provided with at-home literacy activities. Play & Learn is cost-effective, delivers results, and is aligned with Ohio Early Education Standards.
Learn More About DDR’s Play and Learn Program
PARENT AND CAREGIVER RESOURCES
The best place to increase early literacy skills is at home. To help, we offer FREE monthly “Prescriptions for Reading” book recommendations, easy literacy activities, and story reading videos to name a few. Resources are available on the website, or can be emailed directly to caregivers. Books and activities are carefully selected by our Literacy Specialists.
WHY WE DO IT
In the first 3 years, infants and toddlers begin to acquire the first of thousands of words that they will use throughout their lives.
By the age of 2, children who are read regularly display greater language comprehension, larger vocabularies, and higher cognitive skills than their peers.
Reading aloud to young children is not only one of the best ways to stimulate language and cognitive skills; it also builds motivation, curiosity, and memory.
Children who are read to at least 3 times a week are almost twice as likely to score in the top 25% in reading compared to children who are read to less than 3 times a week.
The single most significant factor influencing a child's early educational success is an introduction to books and being read to at home prior to beginning school.
