Author name: SEATTLESPEECH

Celebrating National Reading Month: Building Strong Readers for the Future National Reading Month is an opportunity to slow down, pick up a book, and help children develop the habits and skills that support literacy. For speech-language pathologists, reading development is especially meaningful because language and literacy are closely connected. Strong oral language skills support reading comprehension, vocabulary growth, and academic achievement. Below is a closer look at why reading matters, how to recognize signs of difficulty, and simple ways families can support literacy at home. The History of National Reading Month National Reading Month is celebrated each March in honor of Dr. Seuss (Theodor Seuss Geisel), whose birthday falls on March 2. His books have introduced generations of children to the joy of reading through playful language, rhyme, and imaginative storytelling. Why Reading Matters: The Connection to Future Success Reading is more than an academic skill—it is the foundation for learning in every subject. Research consistently shows strong links between early reading ability and long-term academic outcomes. According to the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), only about one-third of U.S. fourth-grade students read at a proficient level. Nearly 37% of fourth graders read below the basic level, indicating difficulty understanding grade-level text. Children who struggle to read by fourth grade are four times more likely to drop out of high school. Strong reading skills are associated with higher graduation rates, greater access to career opportunities, and improved lifelong learning. Reading development also supports important cognitive and language skills including vocabulary, background knowledge, reasoning, and critical thinking. Signs a Child May Be Struggling With Reading Because reading relies on multiple underlying skills—such as sound awareness, language comprehension, memory, and attention—some children need additional support. Parents may want to seek professional guidance if they notice signs such as: Preschool – Kindergarten Difficulty recognizing rhymes or playing with word sounds Trouble learning letter names and sounds Limited interest in books or listening to stories Early Elementary (Grades 1–3) Slow or effortful reading Guessing at words instead of sounding them out Difficulty remembering common sight words Avoiding reading or homework Later Elementary and Middle School Reading significantly slower than peers Difficulty understanding what was read Trouble organizing written assignments Persistent spelling challenges If these concerns persist, a speech-language pathologist, reading specialist, or educational psychologist can help evaluate language and literacy skills and identify appropriate support.  Contact us to set up a free 30-minute literacy screening. Early identification and intervention can make a meaningful difference. Simple Ways to Support Reading at Home Parents and caregivers play a powerful role in helping children develop strong reading skills. Even small daily habits can support literacy growth. Read Together Every Day Spending 10–20 minutes reading together helps build vocabulary, listening comprehension, and a positive relationship with books. Talk About What You Read Ask open-ended questions such as: What was your favorite part of the story? Why do you think the character did that? What do you think will happen next? Encourage Sound and Word Play Rhyming games, word puzzles, and silly sound play help strengthen phonological awareness, a key foundation for reading. Create a Book-Friendly Environment Keep books accessible around the house and let children see adults reading for enjoyment. Let Children Choose Books Motivation and interest matter. When children select books that excite them, they are more likely to read. Free Literacy Resources for Families Families looking for reading ideas and activities can explore these free resources: Reading Is Fundamental – Book lists, reading activities, and literacy gameshttps://www.rif.org National Education Association – Read Across America resourceshttps://www.nea.org Colorín Colorado – Family literacy resources and reading strategieshttps://www.colorincolorado.org Storyline Online – Children’s books read aloud by actors and storytellershttps://www.storylineonline.net PBS Kids – Interactive literacy games and reading activitieshttps://pbskids.org More resources on our Patient Resources web page These resources make it easy to incorporate reading into everyday routines. Reading Opens Doors National Reading Month is a reminder that learning to read is one of the most important milestones in a child’s development. When children become confident readers, they gain access to knowledge, creativity, and opportunity. If you have concerns about your child’s reading development, early support can help build the skills and confidence needed for long-term success. Reading is more than decoding words—it is the gateway to learning, communication, and lifelong growth.

At Home With Young Children? Build Preschoolers’ Speech and Language Skills With Everyday Interactions and Activities As families around the country shelter in place, parents of preschoolers can help build their child’s speech and language skills during everyday activities at home. Strong speech and language skills are key to kindergarten readiness and a precursor for reading, writing, and social success. Below are some key communication skills for children ages 3–5, and suggestions for how parents can help their preschoolers: Following Directions  Teach or reinforce ways to follow directions throughout the day. Get your child’s attention, make sure they are looking at you, and go over the steps you take when getting dressed, washing hands, brushing teeth, or cleaning up toys. You can even create a picture or sign with the list of steps for common daily tasks. Some easy at-home practice opportunities include the following:  Cooking and baking. Pick a simple recipe and have your child help gather the ingredients. Some recipes have pictures of ingredients, making them easier to find. Talk about what you do first, second, and so on. Children can also learn about numbers and measurements while cooking. Scavenger hunt. Hide 10 of your child’s favorite items throughout your home or yard—and create a simple checklist. Can they find and mark them off the checklist of pictures and/or words? Help them as they hunt to find all 10. You can give clues like “move five steps closer” and “move forward.” Classic games. Games such as Simon Says or Red Light, Green Light help your child listen, pay attention, and move while following one- and two-step directions. Learning Songs and Rhymes Young children love music. Singing nursery rhyme songs like Row, Row, Row Your Boat and Wheels on the Bus teaches them about different sounds and words. Singing songs and hearing rhymes will help children learn to read. Building Vocabulary and Describing Objects The more words a child is exposed to, the more words they’ll know! Keep the conversation going all day long, regardless of your activity. Some great vocabulary-building opportunities include the following: Puzzle time. Have your child pick out a puzzle. Talk about the pictures on the box. What new words can be found in the puzzle? Find puzzles that have different themes, like holidays, animals, or foods. Crafting. Set up a station with art materials and talk as you make a craft. Discuss what they want to make, color choices, and the feel of the materials (like Play-Doh or clay). Nature walk. There is so much to talk about outside! What do they see and hear? Do they feel a breeze? How do flower petals smell? How many colors do they see? What are the birds and squirrels doing? Ask them to tell you more. Telling Stories Set the stage for a story by naming a place, character(s), and activity. Encourage your child to create a story from those details and to make up adventures for each character. The funnier or wilder, the better. You can also pick a familiar book and have them describe how the characters feel. Magazines and newspapers are also great for this purpose. Make up a story about a picture and describe what happens. Role-play the stories by pretending to be the characters. Describing Emotions Help children to express their own feelings and to talk about how others might be feeling. Some ideas include the following: Host an arts-and-crafts show for family members you live with and display your child’s creations. Use household items (e.g., coffee filters, paper towel rolls, or clothespins) or items from outdoors (e.g., sticks, leaves, rocks) to create the crafts. Ask your child to describe their art, why they chose their subject, and how it makes them feel. Show your child photos of family gatherings or events and talk about the people in the pictures—who’s who, what they’re doing, and how everyone may be feeling. Talk about how it feels when you are with friends. What makes a good friend? Use dolls or make puppets out of household materials and stage a show. Use funny voices, and talk about the characters—who they are, what they like or want, and how they feel. Sequencing and Predicting Sequencing is breaking down something (e.g., a task or story) into steps or parts—and then putting them in a logical order. Ask your child to select a favorite book. Read it together, and then talk about it. What came first? Next? Last? Have them draw a picture to show you. As you read, you can also ask them what they think will happen next—or what they think the story is about before you read by looking at the cover (this is called prediction). Persuading Children use many tactics to get their way. Although these tactics may include crying or whining, you can help them learn to persuade with their words. Have them draw a picture of their favorite book and tell you about it—are they able to convince you to read it? Or if they want to watch a TV show or movie, ask them to persuade you—to give you good reasons why they should get to watch the show. Summarizing Schedule a call (or video chat, if you can) between your child and their grandparent, other family members, or a friend to talk about their daily activities or a book they’ve read. Can your child talk briefly about the highlights of the day or the main events in a book? Additional Resources for Parents Communicating With Baby: Tips and Milestones Birth to Age Five ASHA’s Developmental Milestones for Communication Childhood Spoken Language Disorders Reposted from:https://www.asha.org/public/Build-Preschoolers-Speech-and-Language-Skills-With-Everyday-Interactions-and-Activities/

The Gift of Communication: Reflections from a Winter Walk Walking along a quiet dirt road, snow dusting the ground and the sun shining overhead, I found myself slowing down and thinking. Really thinking. Time away from the bustle of daily life—especially time spent with family—has a way of bringing clarity. It reminded me how much I value connection, reflection, and the simple act of being present with the people (and animals) I love. During family gatherings, I’m often asked how work is going and whether I’m still running my practice. I’m grateful for my successful practice — getting the chance to do what I love. But being surrounded by relatives also highlights why my work matters so deeply. Like many families, mine includes individuals with hearing loss. Some wear hearing aids consistently; others have them tucked away in a drawer, forgotten or unused. One conversation with my mother-in-law stood out to me. She shared that she doesn’t notice much difference when she wears her hearing aids compared to when she doesn’t. From her perspective, things seem mostly the same. But those of us speaking with her experience something very different. When she wears them, she misunderstands less, follows conversations more easily, and is able to participate in a more meaningful way. The connection feels smoother, more natural—more shared. This experience reminded me how easy it can be to dismiss communication challenges, whether they involve hearing, speech sounds, or forming clear, grammatically correct sentences. Often, the person experiencing the difficulty may not fully notice what’s missing. But communication is about more than just the individual—it’s about the exchange between people. It’s about being understood and understanding others. At its core, communication connects us. When it breaks down, people can feel isolated, frustrated, or left out—especially during the holiday season, when togetherness is supposed to be front and center. Clear communication allows us to share stories, laughter, opinions, and emotions. It strengthens relationships. Without it, even crowded rooms can feel lonely. These reflections brought me back to why I do this work. As a speech-language pathologist, my goal is to help people better understand when others communicate with them and to help them express their own ideas clearly. Everyone deserves to feel valued, understood, and like they belong. Improving communication isn’t just about skills—it’s about dignity, confidence, and connection. Interestingly, I’m reminded of this lesson daily by someone who doesn’t speak English at all: my dog and co-worker, Rico. Rico communicates beautifully without words. Through eye contact, gentle nose pokes, posture, and even a well-timed eyebrow lift, he lets me know how he’s feeling. Our ability to understand each other is a testament to how powerful communication can be when we’re truly paying attention. Communication doesn’t have to be perfect to be effective—but it does need to be accessible. Whether through hearing aids, speech therapy, alternative communication strategies, or simple awareness, supporting communication opens the door to deeper relationships. This season of reflection has reminded me that communication is one of the greatest gifts we can give and receive. It keeps us connected, included, and understood—and that’s something worth nurturing all year long.