Literacy

The Early Literacy Initiatives were created to assist families and providers in increasing the number of children entering kindergarten with the readiness skills necessary to promote future reading success. Learn more about our Loving Start and Nemours BrightStart! Curriculum and reach out to our office.

Nemours BrightStart Program for Early Literacy Success (NBS!)

The Nemours BrightStart Program for Early Literacy Success (NBS!) helps prevent reading failure by building strong early literacy skills before children enter elementary school. Through research-based instruction and engaging learning experiences, NBS! helps close the reading readiness gap and prepares children for future academic success. We offer Infant/Toddler and PreK literacy programs that support language development, early learning, and family engagement during the most important early years.

We are grateful to our sponsors whose generous support makes these programs possible and helps more children enter kindergarten ready to learn and succeed.

Loving Start Prenatal Program

The Loving Start Prenatal Program partners with local hospitals to give every newborn a strong start on their literacy journey. Through this initiative, new mothers receive their infant’s first book, personalized with a special message from the Early Learning Coalition of Pasco and Hernando Counties (ELCPH). Since launching Cuddle by Elizabeth Verdick and Marjorie Lisovskis in 2021, ELCPH has expanded the program to include a second title, Snuggle by Steve Metzger, providing families with additional opportunities to support early language development, bonding, and reading from birth.

Through partnerships with local hospitals across our service area, the program helps families build nurturing relationships and early literacy skills from their child’s very first days. By placing books in the hands of families at birth, the Loving Start Prenatal Program encourages parents to talk, read, sing, and connect with their babies from the very beginning.