Let’s Read! Book & Early Language Skills

Progressive Pediatric Therapy • September 21, 2021

Written By: Cassandra Hicks, M.A., CCC-SLP

A woman is reading a book to a baby on a couch.

What is Print Awareness ?

The power of books is not just limited to children who have already learned to read. Our early language users can practice important skills, like print awareness, when reading with an adult. Print awareness is the understanding that written language has meaning and is related to oral language. (Ages 4-5)

How can I practice this with my child?

  • Use your finger to trace along the words while you read aloud. This helps children understand that we read top-to-bottom and left-to-right.
  • Ask your child to find letters in the text i.e. “Can you show me the letter A?”
  • Introduce parts of the book by name: “This is the title.” “This is the author, their name is ___”.

What are WH-Questions ?

Asking and answering questions are an important skill in developing language. They are used in almost all settings, including in conversations, in the classroom, and even on the playground. Typically, kids develop an understanding of “what” questions first (ages 1-2), then “who” and “where (ages 2-3), and finally “when” and “why” (ages 3-4).

How can I practice this with my child?

  • You can first model answers to help your child understand questions types. For example: “What is he doing? He is jumping on the bed.”
  • Use all of the WH-question starters (who, what, where, when, why) to help build awareness of the different types of questions and how they each ask about something different.
  • Encourage your child to ask questions too! If they have difficulty with this, give them a question word (i.e., “what”) as a prompt.

What is Summarizing & Sequencing ?

These concepts can be tricky for kids to master as they involve a number of skills. Children need to remember the details of the story, put them in order, and categorize the information as “important” or “not important”.  (Ages 4-5)

How can I practice this with my child?

  • Use “First”, “Next”, and “Then” prompts to help your child recall information in order. 
  • After you finished the story, flip back through the book to show your child the pictures again. Pictures can serve as a visual reminder of what happened in the book.
  • In order to make summarizing a little easier, have your child answer WH-questions. i.e., “Who is the story about?”/ “Where did they go?” These questions can help your child recall and organize the parts of the story.

What is Predicting and Inferencing ?

Predicting and inferencing are important skills for language development because they involve both the receptive and expressive components of language. Children must use their receptive language skills to recall the story and comprehend the language. Then they use the expressive language skills to organize their thoughts and share them aloud with you. (Ages 5+)

How can I practice this with my child?

  • Before turning the page, ask your child to predict what will happen next. Then flip the page and see if they were right!
  • Inferencing is also a great way to incorporate social skills into reading. Ask your child to label the emotions of characters based on their facial expressions and body language in the pictures.
  • Use wordless books and create your own story. Have your child make inferences on the relationships of the characters and why they are performing certain actions. No right or wrong answers here!

What about articulation ?

Books can also be used to target speech sounds that your child is having difficulty with. Books with repetitive phrases like “Brown Bear Brown Bear” for the /b/ sound and “Llama Llama Red Pajama” for the /l/ sound can provide ample opportunities for practice. As we all know, practice makes progress! (Ages 3+)

How can I practice this with my child?

  • Emphasize your child’s target sounds while reading. This can help build awareness of the sounds they are practicing.
  • Have your child repeat back words or phrases from the story with their sound.
  • Ask your child to count how many times they hear their target sound in a sentence. For example: “The big bus is going to school” makes the /b/ sound twice. 

Follow us on Social Media to learn more on all topics related to child development and learning!

Treadmill Training for Children With Cerebral Palsy: What Improved, What Didn't, and Why That Matters

By Aimee Brueck • September 4, 2026
Does treadmill training help children with cerebral palsy walk better? South Florida families trust Progressive Pediatric Therapy for expert pediatric physical therapy in South Florida. Our licensed therapists break down a 2025 randomized trial. Schedule an evaluation today.

Gestalt Language Processing and NLA: What Every Parent Should Know Before Starting Therapy

By Aimee Brueck • September 2, 2026
A 2025 peer-reviewed commentary examines the evidence behind Gestalt Language Processing (GLP) and the NLA protocol. Progressive Pediatric Therapy breaks down the concerns, the common ground, and what it means for families in Palm Beach County.

Does Balance Training Actually Work for Kids With Developmental Delays? A 2026 Review of 22 Trials

August 28, 2026
Does balance training help children with developmental delays? South Florida families choose Progressive Pediatric Therapy for expert pediatric physical therapy in South Florida. Our licensed therapists explain a new 2026 meta-analysis of 22 trials. Schedule an evaluation today.

Supporting Premature Infants: Guidance for Families of Babies Born Early

By Aimee Brueck • August 28, 2026
When a baby arrives earlier than expected, the first weeks and months can bring both joy and uncertainty. Families often leave the NICU or hospital with important instructions — but also many questions about their baby’s development. Parents may find themselves wondering: “Should my baby be rolling, smiling, or eating more by now?” These questions are very common for families of premature infants. Many concerns fall into a gray area between needing formal therapy and simply needing expert reassurance and guidance. At Progressive Pediatric Therapy, our Guiding Growth Program provides proactive developmental support for premature and medically complex infants — helping families understand their baby’s development while building confidence during the first year.

What Is the Long-Term Outlook for a Child With Severe Apraxia of Speech? What the 2026 Research Actually Says

By Aimee Brueck • August 26, 2026
What does apraxia of speech look like years from now? South Florida families trust Progressive Pediatric Therapy for pediatric speech therapy in South Florida. Our licensed speech-language pathologists break down the newest 2026 research. Schedule an evaluation today.

Guiding Growth in Your Baby’s First Year: Support for Every Milestone

By Aimee Brueck • August 25, 2026
The first year of a baby’s life is filled with rapid growth and change. From their first smiles and rolls to sitting, crawling, and early communication, each stage brings exciting milestones — and sometimes questions for parents. Many families find themselves wondering if their baby is developing as expected or if there’s something they should be doing to support the next stage. At Progressive Pediatric Therapy, our Guiding Growth Program provides expert guidance for families during the first year of life, offering milestone monitoring, practical strategies, and reassurance as babies grow and develop.

The Power of the Pen: Why Cursive Handwriting Still Matters

By Aimee Brueck • August 21, 2026
In a world filled with screens, typing, and digital learning, handwriting — especially cursive — is becoming less common in many classrooms. Yet handwriting remains one of the most powerful tools for learning. Writing by hand connects movement, memory, and meaning in ways that typing simply cannot. At Progressive Pediatric Therapy, our Cursive Handwriting Program helps children strengthen the physical and cognitive skills behind writing while rediscovering the joy of putting pen to paper.

Helping Kids Move with Confidence: Supporting Strength, Coordination, and Active Play

By Aimee Brueck • August 18, 2026
In today’s technology-driven world, many children are moving less than previous generations. While screens and busy schedules can make life easier in some ways, they also mean fewer opportunities for children to build the movement skills their bodies need. Parents often notice when movement feels harder for their child — whether it’s riding a bike, keeping up with peers, or participating in active play. At Progressive Pediatric Therapy, our Movement Wellness Visit helps families understand how movement supports development and provides simple, realistic ways to build strength, coordination, and confidence through everyday play.

Understanding Your Child’s Movement and Sensory Style: Supporting Sensorimotor Development

By Aimee Brueck • August 14, 2026
Every child experiences the world in their own unique way. Some children love to climb, jump, and explore everything around them, while others prefer quieter activities or take longer to warm up to new types of play. For parents, it can sometimes be difficult to know whether these differences are simply personality or signs that a child may need extra support. At Progressive Pediatric Therapy, our Sensorimotor Wellness Visit helps families better understand how their child moves, explores, and processes the world — while providing practical strategies to support healthy development through play and everyday routines.

Growing Up Bilingual: Supporting Language Development in Multilingual Families

By Aimee Brueck • August 4, 2026
Many families today raise children in homes where more than one language is spoken. While this is a wonderful gift, it can also bring questions and concerns about speech and language development. Parents often wonder if learning multiple languages will confuse their child or delay speech. At Progressive Pediatric Therapy, our Bilingual Language Wellness Visit helps families understand what typical bilingual development looks like and provides practical strategies to nurture every language their child speaks with confidence.