Long before a child sounds out her first word, she is learning what reading feels like. Whether it’s warm, shared and full of wonder, or simply a task to be completed. The early years, from birth to the end of Year 2, are the window in which a genuine love of reading is most easily built.
Why the early years are the window that matters most
The habits and environment a family builds at home in these years have a lasting, measurable impact on a child’s reading. A love of reading rarely begins with formal instruction, it begins with exposure, warmth and example, long before school does its part.
To support families through this important stage, St Hilda’s has created a new parent resource: How to Build a Love of Reading in the Early Years. It’s a short, practical guide for parents who want to do more than teach their daughter to decode words, they want to raise a reader.
Five simple habits to try at home
The guide distils current thinking on early literacy into five achievable habits. Without giving too much away, it explores why reading aloud still matters long after a child can read on her own, how to choose books pitched at the “just right” level, how to build an everyday reading environment that quietly competes with screens, connecting books to real experiences, and the surprising power of simply being seen reading yourself. Each idea comes with a small “try this” you can put into practice that same evening.
What to look for in a school
The environment a child spends six hours a day in shapes her relationship with reading as much as home does. The guide includes a simple checklist for families weighing up a school’s approach to early literacy, covering specialist literacy programs, a well-resourced library, a visible culture of reading, the balance of phonics and literature, and read-aloud time that continues well beyond Year 1. These are the everyday foundations you’ll find across St Hilda’s 初中部, from a play-based start in JK to Kindergarten to the explicit, evidence-based literacy teaching of Pre-Primary to Year 2.
Discover early years at St Hilda’s
You don’t need a special program to begin, just a comfortable chair and the willingness to read one more chapter before the light goes out.
Download How to Build a Love of Reading in the Early Years
Curious how literacy comes to life at St Hilda’s? Explore our 初中部 和 early years programs, or book a Junior School tour.
