Stage 1 of 5 · Building the Foundation

Your child is right on time.

This is not a waiting room. The foundation is being built right now.

At this stage, the goal is not formal reading lessons. The goal is talking, listening, sharing books, singing songs, and playing with sounds.

That is not "nothing." That is the real beginning of reading.

Here's what to do between now and then…

What is happening now

Reading starts before letters.

Before a child learns letter sounds, they build the foundation through language. They hear words, say words, listen to stories, notice sounds, and learn that books are something they enjoy with you.

Over time, you can watch for the signs that they are ready: they can say their sounds, they remember what they learn, you believe they can do it, and you can give a little consistent time. Those signs do not need to be forced. They grow through play, conversation, and shared books.

How reading gets built

Here is the whole path.

Talking and Hearing Sounds

You Are Here

The stage to focus on now.

Learning Letter Sounds

Connecting letters to the sounds they make.

Blending Words

Putting sounds together to read words.

Advanced Reading Skills

Letter patterns and trickier words.

Reading Fluently

Reading smoothly, and understanding what they read.

You do not need to do everything at once. The best next step is to help your child master a small set of high-value letter sounds first.

PLAY THIS TODAY

Simple things that count.

You do not need a lesson plan yet. These are the things that matter most right now.

1

Talk through your day

Narrate what you are doing, ask simple questions, and give your child time to answer. Back-and-forth conversation is powerful.

2

Play with sounds

Sing songs, say rhymes, clap syllables, and make silly sounds together. Keep it playful. No drilling needed.

3

Read favorite books

Read the same books again and again if your child loves them. Let them point, turn pages, finish familiar lines, and enjoy being with you.

Meet your teacher

Hey, I'm Spencer.

I created Toddlers Can Read to help parents teach reading in a way that feels simple, doable, and research-backed. I am a former award-winning kindergarten and first grade teacher and teacher trainer, and I taught my own son to read at two. I have helped tens of thousands of families learn what to teach, what to skip, and how to know when their child is ready for the next step.

Most parents do not need more random activities. They need a clear starting point and a simple plan they can actually follow. That is what this stage is for.

WHENEVER YOU ARE READY

Stay close until it clicks.

There is nothing you need to buy today. I can send you simple weekly tips for building the foundation now and knowing when your child is ready to begin.

Send me weekly tips