Beyond Story Time: How to Help Parents Nurture Reading from Birth

Librarians, home visitors, and teachers are trusted by parents for advice, yet many lack formal training in literacy development. This session bridges that gap by providing practical tools to equip professionals to help parents raise readers confidently. Maya Payne Smart explains how reading unfolds from birth and how professionals can equip families with simple, research-backed strategies to foster literacy at home. Attendees will receive a free copy of Reading for Our Lives: The Urgency of Early Literacy and the Action Plan to Help Your Child, Maya's revised and updated book.