February: Celebrating a Month of Literacy and Language Growth!

Feb 11

The month of February is full of hearts and valentines, but let’s not forget that it’s also packed with literacy celebrations! From World Read Aloud Day to Library Lovers’ Month, we think this month is the perfect time to dive into books with your child to help nurture their language development! At Growing Together, we LOVE using books to support speech and language growth in engaging, fun, and interactive ways.

Why Books Matter for Language Development:

Reading with your child is an amazing opportunity to expand vocabulary, build sentence structure, strengthen comprehension skills, and (our favorite) connect with your child! The best part? It doesn’t have to be complicated – simple can go a long way with books. Let’s take a deeper dive into how this simple activity with your child can become such a powerful tool for building communication skills.

Expands Vocabulary – Books can introduce children to new words that they might not hear in everyday conversation. Whether it’s learning about “enormous elephants” or “tiny tadpoles,” book can help expand vocabulary in a meaningful way. Remember — The conversation doesn’t have to stop once you’re finished reading…talk about the characters or pictures you saw at the dinner table, pretend to be that Big Brown Bear you read about, and don’t forget…Make. It. Fun!
Improves Speech and Articulation– Listening to and repeating words from a book can help children practice their speech sounds and articulation skills. Books with rhymes, alliteration, and repetition are especially great for supporting clear speech development. We love books with simple repetitive phrases for targeting something like this.
Enhances Comprehension Skills – The act of listening to stories engages your child’s brain which can lead to understanding cause and effect, problem-solving, and sequencing. Asking questions like, “What do you think will happen next?” , or “Why did the character feel that way?” encourages critical thinking and deeper language processing.
Encourages Participation and Engagement – Reading interactive books can build social and communication skills. When children repeat phrases, answer questions, or even point to pictures, they are actively practicing their expressive and receptive language!
Supports Memory and Attention – Following a story from beginning to end can strengthen a child’s ability to focus and remember details. Books with repetitive lines or predictable patterns make it easier for children to anticipate what comes next, reinforcing learning.

These are just a few reasons why Growing Together is so passionate about using books to foster language skills! Now, you may be thinking, “My child won’t sit still for a full book” – we get it, trust me! So let’s talk about how to choose the best books for your little one.

How to Choose the Best Books for Language Growth:

Find Books That Align with Your Child’s Interests. Whether your child loves dinosaurs, sea animals, lawnmowers, or outer space, there’s a story or picture that will spark their excitement. Choosing a book that matches your child’s interest will encourage their participation and motivation to stay engaged while you are reading the book.
Read Books with Repetition and Routines. Repetitive phrases and predictable storylines help children anticipate what comes next, making it easier for them to join in. Books like Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? or We're Going on a Bear Hunt are great for reinforcing language patterns.
Choose Interactive Books. Books that engage multiple senses help children stay focused and learn more effectively. Think:
- Lift-the-flap books that encourage curiosity
- Pop-up books that bring stories to life
- Touch-and-feel books for sensory exploration
- Books with buttons or sound effects to add excitement