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With the holiday season right around the corner and many consumers struggling with high prices, WalletHub today released the results of its 2026 Holiday Shopping Survey, a nationally representative look at holiday shopper sentiment, along with its picks for the Best Credit Cards for Holiday Shopping in 2026. You can check out highlights below.
You’ve probably noticed the headlines, or maybe you’ve felt it yourself when you sit down to read with your child at night. Early literacy skills across the country are slipping, and that worry you’re carrying is valid. The good news is that these early literacy tips can help you support your child at home, starting tonight, no teaching degree required.
Early literacy skills are the building blocks children develop before they can read on their own. They include things like recognizing letters and sounds, understanding that print carries meaning, building vocabulary, and learning how stories work. These skills form the foundation for everything that comes later in school, and they take root long before kindergarten.
It helps to understand what’s actually happening, because the data gives shape to that gut feeling so many parents share.
These numbers can feel heavy. But they also point to something hopeful: the earlier children build strong literacy foundations, the better prepared they are to buck the trend.
Early Literacy Tips You Can Use Today
You don’t need special materials or a strict schedule. The most powerful early literacy skills develop through everyday moments and small, consistent habits.
Read aloud every day. Even 15 minutes makes a difference. Let your child pick the book, and reread favorites as often as they ask.
Talk through your day. Narrate what you’re doing while cooking or running errands. Rich conversation builds the vocabulary reading depends on.
Point out print everywhere. Street signs, cereal boxes, and menus all show your child that letters and words carry meaning.
Play with sounds. Sing songs, make up silly rhymes, and clap out the syllables in names. This builds the sound awareness that supports early reading.
Let them “write.” Scribbles, drawings, and attempts at letters all count. Keep crayons and paper within easy reach.
Follow their lead. When your child asks questions about a story, pause and explore. Curiosity is the engine behind learning to read.
Children thrive on predictability, so anchoring literacy to a daily rhythm helps it stick. Try tying a book to a moment that already exists in your day, like right after bath time or before nap.
Keep it warm and pressure-free. The goal isn’t drilling flashcards; it’s helping your child associate reading with comfort, connection, and fun. That positive feeling is one of the strongest early literacy tips of all, because kids who enjoy books reach for them again and again.
Home matters most, but a nurturing early learning setting reinforces everything you’re doing. Quality early education weaves literacy into play, exploration, and daily routines, so children build skills without even realizing they’re “working.”
At Little Sunshine’s Playhouse, early literacy is part of the everyday experience, surrounded by caring teachers and a curriculum designed to spark a love of learning. When home and school share the same encouraging approach, children get a steady, supportive runway toward reading.
At what age should I start working on early literacy skills?
You can start from birth. Talking, singing, and reading aloud to infants and toddlers all build the foundation for reading later on.
My child isn’t interested in books. What should I do?
Follow their interests. Choose books about things they love, keep sessions short, and let them turn the pages or point to pictures. Interest grows when reading feels playful rather than required.
How much should I read with my child each day?
Even 10 to 15 minutes a day is meaningful. Consistency matters more than length, so aim for a little bit every day.
Should I be worried about the national decline in reading scores?
It’s understandable to feel concerned, but it’s also empowering to know how much your daily habits influence your child’s growth. Early, consistent support at home makes a real difference.
The headlines about declining reading skills are real, but they don’t have to define your child’s story. The small, loving habits you build now add up to a strong foundation, and you’re already doing the most important part by caring enough to start.
If you’d like a learning environment that supports those early literacy skills alongside you, we’d love to show you around. Schedule a tour at Little Sunshine’s Playhouse and see how we help little readers grow.
Speaking of reading…check out more blogs!
Chicka Chicka Boom Boom: The Musical runs January 12-February 7, 2027, on the UnitedHealth Group Stage. This show is best enjoyed by younger audiences. Tickets may be purchased at childrenstheatre.org/
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This November, Johnny Depp is Ebenezer Scrooge. The name you know, the story you don’t. From Ti West, EBENEZER also stars Rupert Grint, Andrea Riseborough, Sam Claflin, Daisy Ridley, Arthur Conti, Ellie Bamber, Henry Lloyd-Hughes, Charlie Murphy, with Tramell Tillman and Ian McKellen.
Christmas is on the line, and Flynn is ready to help! When her reindeer friend Rio struggles with Santa’s navigator training, the two team up to find a way forward in The Fly Who Flew to the North Pole.. From New York Times bestselling author Lauren Sánchez Bezos, this glow-in-the-dark holiday adventure celebrates friendship, thinking differently, and finding your own way.
Also Available in Spanish!
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The holiday season is almost here, bringing with it twinkling lights, cozy nights, snowy adventures, and the joy of sharing stories together. Whether you're looking for a heartwarming Christmas tale, a little wintertime laughter, or a story celebrating the beauty of nature and community, Marble Press has something special for every young reader.
Gather around, get cozy, and discover four delightful books to make this holiday season even more magical!
The First Christmas Tree - Written by Helen Haidle, Illustrated by Raluca Burca
Discover the heartwarming story behind one of Christmas's most beloved traditions! When the animals and trees gather to honor the newborn King, Little Fir Tree worries he has nothing to give. But he soon learns that even the smallest among us can offer something extraordinary. A timeless Christmas tale celebrating kindness, generosity, and the true spirit of giving.
The Adventures of Penguin and Panda: Winterfest (Vol. 3) - Written by Brenda Maier, Illustrated by Fanni Mézes
Whether earning money for the perfect Christmas tree; shopping for a cozy new holiday sweater; sledding down a terrifyingly snowy hill; or trying to squeeze in everything on Penguin’s over-the-top Christmas list, these two yin and yang besties meet every challenge with an abundance of humor and generosity of spirit.
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When Little Wolf gets separated from her family, she remembers her mama's advice: if you're ever lost, find North! But figuring out which way to go takes help from some unexpected friends. With playful storytelling and charming illustrations, this heartwarming winter adventure celebrates courage, friendship, and the love that always guides us home.
Linden: The Story of a Tree - Written and Illustrated by Colleen Muske
Meet Linden, a tree whose greatest joy is bringing people together! Through snowy winters filled with caroling and warm summer days spent beneath his branches, Linden watches generations of neighbors grow and connect. A beautifully illustrated story about kindness, belonging, and community, Linden reminds readers of the special connections that make every season brighter.
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The tour will kick off on November 27 in Sugar Hill, Georgia, and continue through the holiday season. John Berry takes pride in offering a fresh new show each year while always including popular classics like “Little Drummer Boy,” “O Come All Ye Faithful,” “Let It Snow,” “Mary Did You Know,” and his timeless hit, “O Holy Night.” For on-sale dates and the latest information on the "Christmas With John Berry" 30th Anniversary Tour, visit johnberry.com/tour.
Each performance is a two-part show that begins with many of his biggest hits before Berry returns after intermission to a beautifully decorated, festive stage to perform fan-favorite Christmas classics while sharing treasured holiday memories.
“Christmas With John Berry” 30th Anniversary Tour Schedule:
NOV 27 - The Eagle Theater / Sugar Hill, Ga.
NOV 28 - Pickens County Performing Arts Center / Liberty, S.C.
NOV 29 - South Jackson Performing Arts Center / Tullahoma, TN
DEC 02 - The Grand at UW-Oshkosh / Oshkosh, Wis.
DEC 03 - The Performing Arts Center of Wisconsin Rapids / Wisconsin Rapids, Wis.
DEC 05 - Historic Holmes Theatre / Detroit Lakes, Minn.
DEC 09 - Pablo Center at the Confluence / Eau Claire, Wis.
DEC 11 - Alpena Events Complex / Alpena, Mich.
DEC 12 - Hastings Performing Arts Center / Hastings, Mich.
DEC 13 - Dogwood Center for the Performing Arts / Fremont, Mich.
DEC 15 - Majestic Theatre / Chillicothe, Ohio
DEC 16 - Rockmart Theatre / Rockmart, Ga.
DEC 17 - The Classic Center/ Athens, Ga.
DEC 18 - Rex Theatre / Galax, Va.
DEC 19 - The Piedmont Grand Opera House / Macon, Ga.
DEC 20 - Harkin Hall / Madison, Tenn.
DEC 21 - Grand Ole Opry / Nashville, Tenn.
DEC 22 - Dothan Opera House / Dothan, Alabama
About John Berry:
GRAMMY® and EMMY® Award-winning entertainer John Berry has enjoyed a career spanning more than three decades and 25 albums. With 20 charting singles, including six Top 5 hits and a No. 1 on the Billboard country chart, Berry has earned Gold and Platinum records and become one of country music’s most respected performers. His hits include “Your Love Amazes Me,” “What’s in It for Me,” “You and Only You,” “Standing on the Edge of Goodbye,” and “She’s Taken a Shine.” His beloved Christmas album O Holy Night launched an annual holiday tradition that has continued for nearly 30 years.
Berry’s career has been marked by both success and perseverance. He earned a GRAMMY® Award in 1996 for Amazing Grace: A Country Salute to Gospel, Vol. 1 and made history in 1999 with “There He Goes,” a posthumous duet with Patsy Cline. In 2019, Berry successfully battled throat cancer after completing 35 combined radiation and chemotherapy treatments. He later earned an EMMY® Award for his performance in Still Playin’ Possum: Music & Memories of George Jones. This year marks Berry’s 30th Annual Christmas Tour and the 30th anniversary of his Grand Ole Opry debut. He is a member of the North American Country Music Association International Hall of Fame and the South Carolina Entertainment & Music Hall of Fame.
For more on John Berry, visit his website at johnberry.com.
