A Child’s First 5 Years
By age five, a child’s brain is 90% developed, making the early years a critical window for shaping their ability to learn, think, and thrive. In fact, over one million neural connections form every second between birth and age three. Key to this development are “serve and return” interactions—responsive exchanges between children and caregivers that build brain architecture. Without them, vital pathways may not form properly, affecting learning, behavior, and health.
Family Reading Partners works to support this development by empowering parents as their child’s first teacher. Our Early Literacy Mentors model how to use books, play, and conversation to foster serve and return interactions—strengthening both brain development and the bond between parent and child. By creating joyful, meaningful moments of shared learning, Family Reading Partners helps build a strong foundation for lifelong learning and well-being. Investing in early literacy and nurturing relationships today creates brighter tomorrows.
How You Can Help
The FRP High 5 for Literacy initiative invites supporters to make a lasting impact on a child’s first five years. Your support helps ensure future kindergarteners have the early literacy resources they need, while empowering parents with tools to nurture their child’s growth.
A gift to this campaign is an investment in the future—championing early literacy and creating brighter opportunities for children, families, and communities. Join us in building a world where every child starts school ready to learn and thrive.
Become an Early Literacy Champion
Join us as a Champion of Early Literacy by pledging $1,000 or more each year for five years. Champions make a powerful commitment to a child’s future—helping build strong literacy foundations and supporting families during the most critical years of brain development. As a Champion, you’ll stand alongside a dedicated community of supporters, including Janice Anderson, Mary & Michael Andrews, Mady and Gerry Blobe, Patricia Burgess & Douglas Jeffries, Margaret Cavanaugh, Blythe & Robert Devlin, Susan & Steve Friedman, Al Goshaw, Rodney Trice & Kenya McNeal-Trice, and Kathleen & Todd Shapley-Quinn, all united in the mission to ensure every child starts school ready to learn and thrive.
