First Step to Reading is a Summer Reading Program for Babies at The Smithtown Library

Read to your baby and build your baby’s early literacy skills. Babies and toddlers from birth through 35 months can participate in this summer program. Stop by the Children’s Department of your local Library branch beginning on Monday, June 30 to register and pick up a packet. Share 25 books with your little one during the seven week program and receive a certificate and a special prize. 

At just a few months of age, an infant can look at pictures, listen to your voice, and point to objects on cardboard pages. Guide your child by pointing to the pictures, and say the names of the various objects. By drawing attention to pictures and associating words with both pictures and real-world objects, your child will learn the importance of language. 

Children learn to love the sound of language before they even notice the existence of printed words on a page. Reading books aloud to children stimulates their imagination and expands their understanding of the world. It helps them develop language and listening skills and prepares them to understand the written word. When the rhythm and melody of language become a part of a child's life, learning to read will be as natural as learning to walk and talk.