Lunch & Learn W/ Maya Smart: How to Give Your Child a Smart Start

Discover practical, research-based early literacy strategies to help build a strong foundation for any child's future. Maya Smart is America’s leading parent educator. Featured on CBS Mornings, TIME, PBS, and more, she is the author of Reading for Our Lives: A Literacy Action Plan from Birth to Six (Avery/Penguin Random House), a trusted resource for raising thriving readers. Science confirms that reading skills start developing in infancy—but many parents don’t know how to guide this growth. In this session, Maya breaks down the stages of literacy development from birth through the early elementary years, empowering caregivers with six simple yet powerful tools to build lifelong readers. Takeaways • Recognize key literacy milestones from infancy through early elementary school. • Transform everyday moments into rich literacy opportunities. • Adapt your approach as your child grows, fostering reading confidence at every stage. • Weave reading seamlessly into family life, creating meaningful rituals and fostering a culture of learning. • Celebrate literacy milestones with confidence, recognizing and supporting a child’s unique development. Boxed lunches will be provided.