Eric.ed.gov – Developing Math Skills in Early Childhood. Issue Brief

This brief presents a promising approach to supporting the development of early math skills in young children. The approach synthesizes the influence of parents, the home environment, and children’s health care providers, and is being implemented in Washington State by Reach Out and Read. Reach Out and Read is a program in which health care providers give young children new books while modeling effective reading techniques and encouraging parents to read with their children at home. When families participate in Reach Out and Read, parents read aloud more often and children improve their language and literacy skills. Because math and reading can be integrated through Reach Out and Read, parents can learn to simultaneously support the development of their children’s early language, literacy, and math skills in an enjoyable and developmentally-appropriate way. Thus, the program has the potential to improve kindergarten readiness in math and literacy. Because children see their health care providers often during the first few years of life, Reach Out and Read’s initiative could support a large percentage of children through the network of Reach Out and Read programs in Washington State and across the nation.