Early Childhood Programs Engage Young Minds Through Reading

The Division of Child and Family Development (DCFD) celebrated their Second Annual Literacy Week to promote literacy during the early childhood years. Reading to young children is one of the most effective ways to expose them to enriched language and to encourage specific early literacy skills needed to promote school readiness.

“We know how crucial literacy is to the early development of our young children” said First Lady Elizabeth Kistin Keller. “It’s important for us to continue to invest in child development and create opportunities for us all to step up and support our youth.”

Last week in early childhood classrooms across the metro, First Lady Elizabeth Kistin Keller and employees from Youth & Family Services, Albuquerque Community Safety and several other city departments read books to 25 classrooms for students ages 0-5. City Councilors were also invited to read to students in their districts and share their favorite childhood stories with the young children in their communities.

“The City of Albuquerque’s early childhood services are deeply rooted in fostering the development of early literacy skills through daily educator-child engagement,” said Associate Director Dr. Dawnita Blackmon-Mosely. “These interactions support cognitive development, language and communication skills of children from birth through age 5. By promoting early literacy skills, our early childhood services set a foundation that supports school readiness and promotes a love for lifelong learning.”

The early learning years is the most intensive period for speech and language development. Reading, talking, and singing regularly with young children from birth stimulates brain development. This stimulation in turn builds language, literacy, and a child’s motivation to learn. Early literacy is an essential building block for young children’s future reading and academic success, and children are nurtured by having positive literacy-rich experiences throughout the early childhood years.

“The ability to read, comprehend and act on what you are reading is vital to building a healthy life! We all must help our kids read before they get to kindergarten.” Said Councilor Nichole Rogers. “Remember it is not only the school’s responsibility to teach our children, we all should get out there and help teach them to read!”

DCFD provides essential educational programs for children and their families. We are currently accepting new students, visit cabq.gov/earlyeducation to find out how to enroll.