fbpx
2025 Survey

LINKS:    English  |  Español

Changing Children's Lives With the Gift of Literacy

Changing Children's Lives With the Gift of Literacy

Imagine a young child receiving a book in the mail every month until the age of five. What better way to say reading is important? Children enrolled in the Ferst Program receive a new book every month in the mail until their 5th birthday. There is absolutely no cost (ever) to registered children in participating areas! The program is made possible through the partnership with local, all-volunteer Community Action Teams (CATs).

Ferst Readers is a 501C3 organization whose funding is provided through private donations, corporate sponsorships, and grants. Contact us to help with a local program or get a new one started in your area so that we may work together to bring the gift of literacy to every child from birth-5 years old. Partnering together, we can help prepare every child for success in school and in life.

Donate Now

Watch the full length video by clicking here.

  • Default
  • Title
  • Date
  • Random

  • For Parents

    The single most important activity for building the knowledge required for eventual success in reading is reading aloud to children. Read More >>>
     

  • Program Overview

    Our Mission: Strengthening communities by providing quality books and literacy resources for children and their families to use at home during the earliest stages of development. Read More >>>

  • Get Involved

    Approximately 61 percent of low-income families do not have a single piece of reading material suitable for a child. Find out how you can help. Read More >>>
     

Links to More Resources

Below is a list of additional resources for you and your child. These websites offer literacy and learning tips, online library materials, educational games and activities, information about your developing child, and more!

 

Literacy and Learning

 

 

 

 

Earlylit offers literacy information and activities chosen by Saroj Ghoting, Early Childhood Literacy Consultant.  http://www.earlylit.net/handouts-and-activities/

 

 

Every Child Ready to Read provides a collection of video clips from Parent &  Childhood workshops. http://everychildreadytoread.org/resources/               

 

Get Ready to Read provides early literacy and learning tips for children of all ages. They offer newsletters, videos, tool kits, and other useful resources for parents. http://www.getreadytoread.org

    Online Library Materials

     

     

    The eXtension Alliance for Better Child Care database of story-stretching ideas for childcare contains lots of hands-on, ready-to-try ways to extend some of your favorite children’s stories into additional learning experiences. The ideas are especially designed to help young children of different ages expand their learning from children’s books.
    http://www.extension.org

     

     

    Storyline Online. Developed by The Screen Actors Guild Foundation, features accomplished actors and actresses reading some of their favorite children’s books. Each story comes with a free activity guide and can be viewed on YouTube or SchoolTube. Rainbow Fish, Wilfrid Gordon Macdonald Partridge, and To Be a Drum are just a few of the books available. http://www.storylineonline.net/

     

     

    StoryPlace is a digital library created specifically for children. Library materials include free online books, online activities, take-home activities, and reading lists for preschool and elementary students. http://www.storyplace.org

      Child Development

       

       

      The Center for Early Literacy Learning provides an extensive, curated collection of literacy learning activities organized by age – infant, toddler, and  preschooler. http://www.earlyliteracylearning.org/pgparents.php

       

       

      First 5 California is a great parental help site for information on health and learning. Make sure your child is healthy and on-track developmentally with these online resources. http://www.first5california.com/parents/

       

       

      Scholastic’s website has a parent section with an informative collection of reading resources, developmental milestones, and activities for children of all ages! Also check out the book selection tips and free printable activities.
      http://www.scholastic.com/parents//

       

       

       


       

      Talking is Teaching .Are you looking for a way to follow along as your newborn grows into a toddler? Talking is Teaching has great resources, organized by age and topic, for tips on what you can do to help your baby thrive during the first 36 months. http://talkingisteaching.org/resources/

      words2reading 1                                                                                                                                               Words2Reading promotes early language and literacy development through quick access to easy-to-use resources for families, caregivers and teachers. https://words2reading.com/

       

       



      ZERO TO THREE. The first three years of life are a period of incredible growth in all areas of a baby’s development. The ZERO TO THREE website offers information, interactive tools, parent handouts, charts, tip sheets, FAQ’s, articles, and powerpoint slideshows all designed to help you in supporting and nurturing the health and development of babies and toddlers. http://www.zerotothree.org/child-development/

        Educational Games and Activities*

        * There is some concern that screen time for young children, especially for babies under 18 months, can lead to developmental problems later. It can impact your child’s language learning and social/emotional development. For more on the subject, go to: https://www.babycenter.com/screen-time-babies-toddlers#articlesection2. 

         

         

        Cookie, child experts and educators design interactive online games for kids.  Cookie’s learning games for kids help build skills needed for success in school. While playing these fun educational games, kids learn to read with phonics and build skills in math, language, social studies, science, and more. http://www.cookie.com

         

         

        PBS Rhyming Games.A multitude of research has shown a correlation between rhyming mastery and eventual reading preparedness. Learn about rhyming and play games with your favorite PBS Kids characters like Martha Speaks, Super Why, WordGirl, and Elmo!  http://pbskids.org/games/rhyming/

           

         

        • 1
        • 2
        • 3
        • 4
        • 5
        • 6
        ×

        Thank you for visiting Ferst Readers!

        Ensuring that children develop early literacy skills is one of the most important things we can do - as parents, as teachers - and as a society.

        Won't you help us make a difference?

        Adopt a reader today!   Make a Donation!