Reading is a huge milestone in every child's life. From the moment they begin taking notice of picture books to the days when your little one is writing his or her own stories, books bring people together and promote learning opportunities. If you have a young child, you're probably wondering when he or she should begin reading. Read on to learn what to expect:

Ages 1-3

Psychology Today wrote that babies and toddlers under three years of age can pick up some skills from being read to. They may understand phonics patterns and attempt to decode what they're hearing even before they begin forming words to speak. When parents read specific books to their children repeatedly, like a favorite bedtime story, the child is likely picking up some of the words and storyline. Meaningful book sharing is more likely to imprint on the brains of these young kids. This requires cuddling the baby while you read, as well as getting excited to show the child that books and reading are fun. If you follow these practices, your child may reach for a particular book over and over, or even tote a favorite book around with him or her.

Reading together can consist of an adult reading aloud and the child mouthing the sounds.

Babies and language

It's pretty impressive to learn that young children can understand language long before they use it themselves. They tend to be drawn to language, choosing books and trying to speak well before they have the knowledge to read or form words. Parents can encourage this natural interest in language by teaching their little ones sign language to stand in for words like "hungry" and "more." This encourages babies to recognize certain terms.

While reading, the same process occurs - the child's mind searches for repetition within the text and notices words that are shared between multiple books. You may teach a child about zoo animals, for instance, through several fun story books. The child should be able to recognize the image of a giraffe, cartoon or photograph, as well as potentially point out the word. Look for books with short, bold sentences to further this learning.

Parents can also take advantage of this curiosity about language by teaching their kids to be bilingual. Adults and little ones can benefit from learning a new language, and it's easiest for children to start young and integrate both languages into all aspects of their lives. The entire family can learn a language together, starting with vocabulary terms around the house and moving on to short phrases as the children age and progress.

Books

Babies love picture books where parents identify the image aloud. Tactile elements are also a great way to make books memorable, so look for ones with attached finger puppets or furry animations. When children grow older, they'll begin to mouth along with you as you read, a vital step in learning to read themselves. Families can boost a child's reading comprehension before he or she heads to school for formal instruction. Showing that reading is positive at home will help the child excel and want to grow in his or her reading once school begins.