Language Milestones

You know exactly when your child should be rolling over, sitting up, and taking their first steps. You track these milestones carefully.

But do you know what language milestones your child should be reaching at age two, or three, or four? Most parents are not told that language has milestones too. That your child's brain is building the foundations of reading long before they ever hold a pencil. That your voice, the books on the shelf, and the songs you sing at bedtime are not just comfort, they are an important environment for language development.

Reading is a Language was build to help your child meet all of their language milestones. This program guides you through every stage of your child's spoken and written language development, from birth through age six, so that reading doesn't become something your child struggles to catch up to. It becomes something they grew into, naturally, at home, with you.

Your child's language milestones

Spoken and written language develop together — here's what to look for at every stage.

Spoken language Written language
Birth – 1
Spoken
Responds to voices. Coos and babbles. Recognizes familiar words like their name.
Written
Hears books read aloud. Sees that print exists in the world around them.
Age 1 – 2
Spoken
First words appear. Points to objects. Vocabulary grows to 50+ words by age 2.
Written
Enjoys repetitive books. Begins to notice that letters are different from pictures.
Age 2 – 3
Spoken
Two-word phrases grow into simple sentences. Asks questions. Loves stories and rhymes.
Written
Begins to recognize letters by sight. Recognizes their own name in print. Loves alphabet books.
Age 3 – 4
Spoken
Tells simple stories. Uses complex sentences. Vocabulary reaches 1,000+ words.
Written
Identifies most letters by name. Begins to identify 2–3 familiar written words by sight.
Age 4 – 5
Spoken
Fluent sentences. Retells stories in sequence. Strong rhyme awareness and word play.
Written
Recognizes letters and their sounds. Sight word vocabulary growing. Beginning to read simple words.
Age 5 – 6
Spoken
Rich, complex conversation. Narrative skill. Strong vocabulary across many topics.
Written
Identifies 25+ sight words. Reads simple sentences independently. Reading has begun.

Reading Is a Language guides parents through every stage of this journey — 20 minutes a day, from birth through age 6.

I taught all five of my children to read before kindergarten. One of them had a language delay and tested in the 1st percentile at age 3.

I'm a mother and a former educator who became convinced that the window for reading opens far earlier than most parents are told.

I crafted this method from my knowledge of childhood development and used it with my first three children. All of them were reading chapter books before they started school.

My fourth child was different. At age 3, he was diagnosed with an auditory language delay. He tested in the 1st percentile for language development. He got kicked out of preschool because he couldn't keep up. I wasn't sure I should teach him to read like my other children but I decided to try.

I started the program with him at age 4. Something unexpected happened. As his visual language grew, his verbal language grew with it. By age 6, he retested in the 65th percentile. Now he is graduating from high school as an honor student and heading to an elite university.

I share this not to make a promise, but to make a point: young children are far more capable than we've been told. And you, as their parent, are the most powerful teacher they will ever have.

—Connie Johnston, Creator of Reading Is a Language | B.A. Secondary Education, minor in Psychology

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The Secret of Early Reading

Your child's brain isn't waiting for Kindergarten

The first six years of life are the single greatest window for language learning the human brain ever experiences. Children don't learn to speak by sitting in a classroom. They learn because language surrounds them every day. Reading works the same way.

When a young child is gently surrounded by written language through stories, rhymes, games, and everyday moments, their brain begins forming reading patterns naturally. Not through drilling. Not through pressure. Through the same instinct that taught them to talk.

You don't have to wait. You can't mess it up. You just have to start.

Where would you like to start?

  • Ages 0-3

    Build a rich language foundation

    Stories, rhymes, movement, and vocabulary — the groundwork that makes reading possible.

    See Pre-Reading Packs A, B, and C 

  • Ages 1-4

    Introduce letters and the alphabet

    Playful, pressure-free activities that make letters feel familiar before formal learning begins.

    See Parent Pack 1 

  • Ages 3-6

    Begin reading real words

    Your child starts recognizing and reading words independently — often faster than you expect.

    See Parent Pack 2-3 

How It Works

Step 1

Read, sing, and move together (ages 0–3)

Nursery rhymes, finger plays, movement games, and stories build the language pathways reading runs on. This is where you open their language potential. Pre-Reading Packs A, B, and C guide you through every session.

Step 2

Discover letters together (ages 1–4)

A wooden puzzle on the floor. Alphabet cards on the bedroom wall. A matching game at the kitchen table. Letters become familiar long before they become formal. Parent Pack 1 shows you exactly how.

Step 3

Watch them read (ages 3 and up)

Word by word, story by story, your child builds a reading vocabulary through games, books, and repetition — the same way they learned to talk. Parent Packs 2 and 3 walk you through every step until they're reading on their own

The Complete Reading is a Language Program

Each pack is self-contained, ship-ready, and built around 20 focused minutes a day. Start anywhere. Follow the sequence. Build your child's home library one pack at a time — and watch a reader emerge.

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FAQ

Q: Do I need teaching experience?
A: Not at all. The workbooks walk you through exactly how to use each item with your child.

Q: Is this a phonics program?
A: No — we use visual language, which matches how young brains naturally learn to read.

Q: Is shipping really free?
A: Yes! No surprise fees at checkout. Shipping is always included.

Q: Can I buy just one pack?
A: Absolutely. Each pack is a complete experience on its own, so you can buy them sequentially as your child grows or bundle them all to have them as your child is ready.

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