1. My parents read to me. I especially remember my mother sitting me on her lap in the rocking chair and reading wonderful stories like Dr. Seuss's Horton Hatches the Egg. She even did the voices. One-on-one time between a parent and a child as they share a book... priceless.
2. We made frequent trips to the library. I would grab loads of books and haul them home on every trip. We visited the library so much that (in my young mind) I eventually read almost every book in the children's section. Having reading material in the home makes all the difference in the world when it comes to literacy.
3. Tiny teaching moments were seized and utilized. For example, while my mother cooked dinner she would read the ingredients out loud and show me how she sounded out each word. "I need half a cup of milk," she would read. And then she would point to the letters and sound them out as I watched: "m - i - l - k."
I love these "How I Learned to Read" articles published by Scholastic. They're full of great tips, insights, and new ideas for families. Enjoy!