When caring adults use spoken word and pictures to help a child see how their day will unfold, children learn their routine and are mentally prepared to meet the emotional challenges of the day. For example: First you will go to Auntie’s house for breakfast and to play with your cousins. Then Auntie will take you to playschool, and I will pick you up when you’re finished. When caring adults avoid electronic books and reach for real paper, children are protected from distracting buttons and games. They are more easily able to follow the plot of the story and more likely to pick up on important pre-reading strategies like the direction of the text and the ways that illustrations help us to predict the words on the page. When a caring adult takes time to play, children learning that they are loved and worthy of attention. Try turning off your TV and your phone, leave the dishes in the sink, and just play. Follow your child’s lead and enjoy this special time together fostering your relationship. The chores are never ending, but childhood will be over before you know it.