The Early Literacy Program is a free, interactive parenting education program for Fairfax County families who have young children from birth to five years of age and whose home language is Arabic, Korean or Spanish.
The Early Literacy Program seeks to promote parent education and involvement early in a child’s life by providing parents with an opportunity to develop essential early literacy skills at home and gain confidence in their ability to become active partners in their children’s education. The program provides information and resources on how parents can establish a positive home-school connection by:
- Understanding the important role parents play as their child's first teachers.
- Recognizing behavioral and academic expectations of Fairfax County Public Schools.
- Becoming familiar with school programs and services such as: interpreters, parent liaisons, health and nutrition services, library services and enrichment programs, and before and after school care.
Trained, native-speaking instructors provide a safe and friendly environment where parents can discuss their concerns, ask questions, and share their valuable experiences in the language spoken in the home. The instructors provide information, demonstration, resources, and literacy support, as well as the opportunity for parents and children to practice early literacy activities together.
Parents receive a certificate of participation upon completion of the program, as well as books and other materials to enable them to work at home with their children after the program has ended.
NOTE: Children must be accompanied by a parent or extended family member.
The brain is the center for learning, and children's brains are wired to learn from birth. What a young child sees, hears, feels, and does during the first five years of life form the building blocks for later success in reading, writing, speaking, and thinking. Interactions with parents and other caregivers are critical components of young children's experiences.
The program is offered throughout the year at various school and community sites and in different formats to serve the varying needs of the families. Some important topics covered in these sessions include:
- brain development
- the role of music, culture, and language in learning
- the importance of reading with children
- positive discipline and communication
- stages of development
- health and nutrition.
For questions about language-specific programs, please contact:
For detailed Korean program information and forms, click on Korean Program.
