Early Literacy

First 5 Tehama Leads a Community Initiative to increase brain development, strengthen families, and increase early learning through one act TALK-READ-SING

Start here by learning more about your child’s early language literacy milestones. Knowing what language and literacy milestones your child is developing helps you know how to support them grow.

The research is clear supporting families to Talk, Read, Sing and Play every day ensures children have the best start in school and life!

How families play, talk, read and listen with their children before kindergarten:

  • can predict their fourth grade oral comprehension ability. (David K. Dickinson and Michelle V. Porche, “Relation Between Language Experiences in Preschool Classrooms and Children’s Kindergarten and Fourth-Grade Language and Reading Abilities,” Child Development, May ⁄ June 2011, Volume 82, Number 3, Pages 870–886)
  • supports emotional regulation and lays the foundation for positive social emotional experiences as well as reading experiences in school. (Ayoub et. al., 2011; Landry et al., 2002; Matte-Gange & Bernier, 2011)

How children experience play can provide:

  • life-long resiliency for buffering stressful and even traumatic events. Harvard
  • Develops their foundation for positive self-concept and emotional regulation skills into adulthood.

Explore Tehama Early Literacy Opportunities

The First 5 Book Club is more than a club it is an experience for both children and adults. Members of the book club receive developmentally appropriate books to support early literacy which we know creates lasting positive change into adolescence. Adults receive information about local resources as well and child development information through online access as well as in person material pick ups. Additionally the book club provides a venue for caring adults in the community to show their support for early literacy by reading, singing or playing an instrument on our exclusive First 5 Virtual Talk Read Sing events.

Research shows that how families play, talk, read, and listen with their children before kindergarten drastically affects their brain development and future school success.

First 5 Tehama is proud to be a partner in Badges with Books. Great opportunity to foster relationships between our local law enforcement, families, and children. Don’t be surprised to see an officer handing out books to prospective parents or children throughout our community.

This homegrown program began with outreach from the Red Bluff and Corning Police Departments. As the program’s success began to root, Tehama County Probation, CalFire, and the K-9 Unit jumped in to also offer support. To learn more email abrinkman@first5tehama.com

Little Free Libraries in Tehama County have been kindly sponsored by members within the Tehama County community and provide access to free books for all children and families. Bring one get one! If you would like to sponsor a Little Free Library to be added to your neighborhood, please contact Karla Stroman at 530-528-7381. View the map here

Join the local movement; watch local champions read children’s stories or read contact us do make a video yourself: