From birth to age 3, most babies and toddlers will begin to recognize books, pretend to read, name some object in books, and try to write or scribble some letter-like forms.

From ages 3-4, most preschoolers make attempts to read and write, participate in rhyming games, identify some letters, make some letter-sound matches, and use known letters to represent written language.

At age 5, most kindergartners retell simple stories, recognize letters and letter-sound matches, begin to write letters of the alphabet and some words they hear often, and begin to write stories with some readable parts.

At age 6, most first-graders can read and retell stories, identify new words by using letter-sound matches, identify an increasing number of words by sight, and write about topics that mean a lot to them.

"It is not enough to have a good mind.
The main thing is to use it well."
-Rene Descartes

U.S. Department of Education
Office of Communications and Outreach
Helping Your Child Become a Reader
Washington, D.C., 2005