Parenting is tough. So many of the tasks we do to “civilize” our children go unnoticed and unrewarded for weeks, months and years. But somewhere in the hazy future we trust they will pay off.

Building a literate home is like that. You buy the board books and read to babies, understanding that a big part of that experience will end up with books more chewed than read. You capture a wiggly toddler and dutifully point to bright illustrations of apples and dogs only to have him break free to run and play or smear peanut butter on the pages. Reading with very young children can be frustrating. You may wonder if the effort it takes for several minutes of “reading” is worth the mess.

Yes… it is.

You know why? Because you’re building a bridge. Each reading experience adds a board to the bridge you’re building between your child and future reading success. You’re aiding your child in the recognition and storage of sounds and word patterns. You’re building background knowledge of book language and the mechanics of gaining meaning from squiggles on a page. You’re preparing your child to be a strong reader.

Think about the building process. You make a plan– a blueprint of the finished product. You read the directions. You gather tools and supplies. You work step by step to create your finished product. You’ll end up with a “bridge” in due time, but you’re not there yet.

It’s the same when you read with very young children. You have the plans and supplies that will eventually create smooth reading, but you’re not there yet. It takes faith and commitment. It requires patience and endurance. It takes vision to see and believe the future. But you can do it, because you’re a parent and that’s what parents do.

Build that bridge.