“Reading Begins with Listening,” explains HomeschoolOT founder Sarah Collins

A Note from the InkandescentKids editors: If it’s Friday, it’s time for our weekly spotlight on HomeschoolOT founder Sarah Collins, who will be sharing her insights with us. See our first post below, and be sure to follow Sarah at homeschoolot.com.

By Sarah Collins, MSOT, OTR/L

When most people think about learning to read, they picture a child sounding out words in a book.

But reading actually begins much earlier.

Long before children recognize letters on a page, they are learning to listen. They are hearing conversations at the dinner table, singing songs in the car, listening to stories before bed, and playing with language through rhymes and word games. These everyday experiences build the foundation for literacy.

Recently, I spoke with literacy expert Melanie Jeffrey about the early building blocks of reading. One of the most interesting parts of our conversation was the reminder that before children can connect letters to sounds, they first need to be able to hear and work with those sounds.

Think about the word “cat.” Before a child can read it, they need to recognize that the word is made up of three sounds: /c/, /a/, and /t/. This awareness develops naturally through conversations, songs, stories, and playful language experiences.

The good news is that parents do not need expensive materials or complicated lessons to support these skills.

Some of the best literacy activities happen during ordinary moments:

  • Play rhyming games while driving in the car.
  • Read aloud together every day.
  • Make up silly words and laugh about them.
  • Sing songs and nursery rhymes.
  • Encourage children to tell stories about their day.

As an occupational therapist, I often remind families that learning happens through participation. Children learn by doing, listening, moving, playing, and connecting with the people around them.

This is one reason read-alouds are so powerful. When we read to children, we are doing much more than sharing a story. We are building vocabulary, strengthening listening skills, introducing new ideas, and creating positive associations with books and learning.

Perhaps most importantly, we are building connection.

The next time you curl up with a favorite picture book or tell a silly story in the car, remember that these moments matter. Reading does not begin with a workbook or a curriculum. It begins with language, relationships, and the joyful experience of sharing words together.

And that is something every parent can do.

Say hello to Sarah Collins, MSOT, OTR/L, an occupational therapist, homeschool mom, author, and founder of HomeschoolOT. With more than 17 years of experience supporting children and families, she helps parents understand how learning, movement, sensory processing, executive functioning, and daily life skills work together.

Since beginning her own homeschool journey in 2017, Sarah has combined her professional expertise with real-life experience, helping families create learning environments that honor each child’s unique strengths and challenges. Through HomeschoolOT and The OT is IN podcast, she shares practical strategies that help parents move beyond curriculum choices and better understand how their children learn best.

Sarah believes that homeschooling is not about recreating school at home. It is about helping children grow into capable, confident learners while building strong family relationships along the way.

Learn more: homeschoolot.com