Get in the habit of reading aloud to your kids

Babies are born learning and parents are a child's first and most important teacher.

That is why the Read Aloud 15 MINUTES March campaign wants all parents to know reading aloud for 15 minutes every day, starting at birth, is the best way to prepare their child for learning to read and school success.

From birth to age 5 there is no school like the "School of You," the nonprofit is telling parents during March Read Aloud Month.

"Parents and primary caregivers are the people in the best position to grow their baby's brain," says Read Aloud 15 MINUTES Co-Founder and President, Dr. Candace Kendle.

"No one else is there, right from birth, like a parent. No one else can, talk, sing, play and read aloud to a child like a parent can. And, of course, no one cares like a parent cares."

Throughout the month of March, Read Aloud 15 MINUTES and its more than 1,500 partners across all 50 states are devoting their messaging to those twin themes: the key window of brain development from birth to age 5, and parents' vital role during that time.

"We strongly believe if parents understood how important their role is as first teacher, and the difference that reading aloud for 15 minutes every day from birth can make, they would absolutely do it," says co-founder and executive director, Bob Robbins.

"When parents understand that talking, playing, singing and reading aloud are not enhancements, but are instead requirements, for their child's development, we will see huge leaps in children's readiness for school and life."

March Read Aloud Month, one of Read Aloud 15 MINUTES' three annual campaign pulses, brings together a diverse coalition of partners, such as UPS, Home Depot, SUNY and the University of North Carolina, to hundreds of grassroots groups, such as local school districts, libraries, and day care centers that collaborate to reach a broad audience of millions of parents and caregivers nationwide.

For more information visit www.readaloud.org.