The Reading Start

Making early literacy part of everyday life.

Parent Consultations | Workshops | Literacy Partnerships & Campaigns

Where does a reader begin?

Long before a child learns to read.

Literacy begins in infancy, through relationships, conversations, play, shared stories, and everyday experiences. These early interactions help shape the foundation for children's language, literacy, and learning.

Parents are already doing so much to support their children's development. They navigate information about nutrition, sleep, physical milestones, emotional well-being, and countless other aspects of raising children. Early literacy deserves a place in those conversations, too.

The Reading Start was created to help make that happen.

Founded by Dr. Deirdre Cruz, a literacy researcher, educator, and early childhood leader, The Reading Start grew from years of classroom experience and doctoral research exploring mothers' literacy beliefs and the early experiences that shape infants' home literacy environments.

That research reinforced an important idea: literacy development is influenced not only by what children are taught, but also by the beliefs, relationships, environments, and everyday experiences surrounding them.

Our Mission

The Reading Start bridges the gap between literacy research and everyday life.

Through personalized parent consultations, educational workshops, research-informed resources, and strategic partnerships, we help families better understand literacy development and recognize opportunities to support it in ways that feel meaningful and manageable.

Our Vision: A Cultural Shift

We envision a world where early literacy is as much a part of everyday parenting conversations as nutrition, sleep, and physical development.

Where families have access to trustworthy literacy information without judgment or unnecessary pressure.

Where healthcare providers, community organizations, educators, and brands help reinforce the importance of early language and literacy experiences.

And where literacy is recognized not simply as a school subject, but as something woven into our relationships, homes, communities, and everyday lives.

Our goal isn't to give parents more to do. It's to make the literacy-rich moments already happening around them more visible, valued, and supported.

How We Can Work Together

For Parents & Caregivers

Personalized literacy consultations offering research-informed guidance, answers to questions, and support for children's developing literacy skills.

For Schools & Community Organizations

Educational workshops, family engagement initiatives, and resources that make literacy research accessible and relevant to the families you serve.

For Brands, Nonprofits & Institutions

Research consultation, educational messaging, literacy awareness campaigns, and strategic partnerships that bring early literacy into everyday conversations.

Let's make early literacy part of the conversation from the very beginning.