One year ago, on November 2, 2025, I officially launched The Reading Start with a belief that has guided much of my academic and professional life: literacy begins long before a child learns to read.
As an educator, literacy researcher, and mother, I've spent years thinking about how children develop the foundations for reading and writing. My doctoral research focused on maternal literacy beliefs and the home literacy environment during the first two years of a child's life. Through that work, I became increasingly interested in the ways families understand literacy development and how those beliefs influence their everyday interactions with their children.
One of the things that has stayed with me is how often the earliest years of literacy development, particularly birth through age three, are overlooked in broader conversations about reading.
When we talk about literacy, we often focus on what happens once children enter school. We talk about phonics, reading levels, sight words, and academic achievement. These conversations are important, but they don't tell the whole story.
The foundations of literacy are being built long before formal reading instruction begins.
They develop through conversations, shared experiences, songs, play, storytelling, and the everyday interactions between children and the people who care for them.
And yet, this information isn't always communicated to families in ways that feel accessible, practical, or relevant to their daily lives.
That is why I created The Reading Start.
Building a Foundation
When I launched The Reading Start, my goal wasn't simply to create another place to share reading tips.
I wanted to create a space where research could become part of a larger conversation about early literacy—one that includes parents, caregivers, educators, developmental specialists, and the organizations that support young children and families.
I believe families deserve access to reliable information about literacy development without feeling overwhelmed by educational terminology or pressured to turn every interaction into a lesson.
Sometimes the most meaningful literacy experiences are the simplest ones.
A conversation during breakfast. A song in the car. A child pointing to a picture and asking a question. A parent responding to a baby's sounds.
These moments matter, and families deserve to understand why.
Over the past year, The Reading Start has been about laying the groundwork for that mission: sharing research, exploring questions families have about early literacy, and beginning to build connections that can help this information reach more people.
Looking Toward Year Two
As The Reading Start enters its second year, I'm excited to continue moving beyond sharing information and toward creating more opportunities for meaningful conversations and connections.
I envision The Reading Start as a resource that brings together research, family experiences, and expertise from across disciplines.
Early literacy does not develop in isolation. Language, communication, movement, sensory experiences, relationships, and opportunities for play are all part of a child's development.
I hope to continue exploring these connections through conversations with professionals, collaborations with organizations, and opportunities to engage directly with families.
I am also especially interested in bringing early literacy awareness into communities where access to research-informed guidance and resources may be limited.
There is still so much to learn, explore, and build.
The Next Chapter
One year in, I am reminded that creating something meaningful takes time.
The Reading Start is still growing, and I am learning along the way. But the belief that inspired its creation remains unchanged.
Every child deserves a strong start, and every family deserves access to the knowledge and support that can help make that possible.
As I look ahead, I am excited about the conversations, connections, and opportunities still to come.
Thank you to everyone who has followed along, shared a post, asked a question, or supported The Reading Start during its first year.
This is only the beginning.
Read. Play. Connect.
Dr. Deirdre Cruz
Founder, The Reading Start
