Help to Promote Reading Among Children During September’s National Literacy Month
Although promoting early literacy is a year-round endeavor, September has been designated as National Literacy Month, during which educators and caregivers should encourage reading among children.
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Pennsylvania’s Office of Child Development and Early Learning shared a message this week that families should spend at least 15 minutes per day reading, storytelling, singing, and taking part in conversation.
OCDEL cited research showing that shared reading experiences help to strengthen vocabulary, comprehension, social-emotional development, and caregiver-child relationships while helping children prepare for school.
Children who are exposed to books and language early in life, according to OCDEL, are more likely to:
Develop strong language and communication skills
Build larger vocabularies
Strengthen listening and comprehension skills
Be prepared for kindergarten and future learning
Develop creativity and imagination
Foster a lifelong love of reading
OCDEL noted that it would share weekly tips and resources to help promote early literacy as part of National Literacy Month.
Meanwhile, some other resources from Trying Together, Buzzword, and the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh to help celebrate the month include:
Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh Releases 2026 Best Books for Babies List, Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh
PA Promise for Children Releases August Books for Preschoolers, Trying Together
Buzzwords & Activities, Buzzword
Children’s Books on Race and Equity, Trying Together
Resource: Books to Celebrate Gender Expression, Inclusion, and Pride, Trying Together
Children’s Books About Transitions, Trying Together
Children’s Books About Mental Health, Trying Together