Early Language, Vocabulary, Family Activities . By Maya Smart | September 29 , 2025

Get Your Toddler Talking at a Children’s Museum Near You

Discover how children’s museums get toddlers talking, build vocabulary, and beat screen time—one playful visit at a

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Literacy Skills, Early Language, Letters & Sounds, Spelling, Writing . By Maya Smart | September 15 , 2025

Here’s How to Turn Your Child’s Spelling Fails into Teachable Moments

A hilarious viral clip of a sharp five-year-old lecturing his mom shows a golden teachable moment—and how kids learn to read

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Literacy Skills, Early Language . By Maya Smart | September 08 , 2025

Unlock the Power of Parenting to Raise Lifelong Readers

Unlock the power of parenting for turning kids into lifelong readers with easy, joyful strategies shared by author Maya Payne

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Maya's Favorites, Community, Diversity & Inclusion, Library & Literacy Advocacy . By Maya Smart | August 11 , 2025

Help Close the Reading Gap: Donate Reading for Our Lives to Families Who Need It

Give the gift of literacy at scale. Support book donations to family-serving groups that nurture young readers and

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Seasonal & Holidays, Parent-School Partnership . By Maya Smart | August 04 , 2025

Summer Reading Crisis? Not in My House (And Not in Yours Either)

Author Maya Payne Smart talked to Fox 6 about how to sidestep the summer reading crisis by turning lazy days into summer learning

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Maya's Favorites, Kids Books, Family Activities, Community . By Maya Smart | June 23 , 2025

Why You Should Bring Your Kids to Author Talks—Especially Ones Like This. 

Want to raise a real reader? Discover how bringing kids to author talks sparks curiosity, confidence & love of books—one

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Seasonal & Holidays, Community, Diversity & Inclusion . By Maya Smart | July 01 , 2024

July 4th Reflections on Liberty and Literacy

Author Maya Payne Smart reflects on the boundaries of the freedoms the 4th of July extols— and who enjoys them—plus how

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Maya's Favorites, Literacy Skills, Early Language, Letters & Sounds . By Maya Smart | September 16 , 2024

Spelling Champs Beat the Odds, But Reading Itself is a Stretch Goal for Too Many

Discover the history of black spelling bee contestants who beat the odds, even as strong reading & spelling remain stretch goals

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Early Language, Personal Development . By Maya Smart | November 04 , 2024

I Made These New-Mom Mistakes. Then I Wrote a Book So You Won’t Have To.

Parenting author Maya Payne Smart shares her inspiring journey to becoming a literacy advocate and what new parents can learn

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Literacy Skills, Early Language, Letters & Sounds . By Maya Smart | November 11 , 2024

5 Tips for Parents from Reading for Our Lives by Maya Payne Smart

Empower your child’s literacy journey with these five actionable tips from Reading for Our Lives by Maya Payne Smart. Discover

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