Read stories out loud. Stories influence children's learning for life. Some research suggests that the more stories children hear before entering school, the more likely they will be successful academically. Listening to books benefits their vocabulary and comprehension.

Encourage your child to write. When children write, they naturally begin to pay attention to the sounds words make and the letters that form words. And it doesn't matter how they spell! Recent research shows that young children who are allowed to write often with invented spelling develop the ability to become good readers.

Wonder about stories! Conversations with your children about what they are reading are critical to children's learning. Discussing books helps them understand how stories work, and how language works.

Give them the gift of independence. We all learn best by doing things ourselves. Encouraging children to figure out words on their own -- mistakes and all -- helps them to become independent readers.

Fast Fact: Roughly 80-85 percent of children learn to read by the middle of first grade.