Literacy is one of the most important skills for children to learn, but many are falling behind. A 2023 study found that ...

"Children at age 3 are very capable," said Theresa Roberts, a former Sacramento State child development professor who researches early childhood reading. And it doesn't have to be a chore, she said.

Parents who try to teach their children to decode words at 3 or 4 may end up turning their kids off from reading instead. Children who are drilled in flash cards and letter decoding may also miss ...