It’s the mother who sings to her infant. The baby who chews on the board book! The toddler who asks for his favorite stories to be read to him over and over again. Sound familiar? Early literacy is what children learn and know about reading and writing before they actually read and write.
As you’re most likely already aware, early literacy skills develop in the first 5 years of life. According to recent brain development research, children are born with 100 billion brain cells. By the time a child is three, his or her brain circuitry is basically developed, which is why it is important to form positive learning experiences and attachments as early as possible.
You make such a difference to your child’s early learning successes. When you read, talk or play with your child, you’re stimulating the growth of their brain. It’s that simple! Even if a child or baby doesn’t appear to be learning, they are. Hearing stories, handling books, playing with blocks—it all adds up to early literacy. With each interaction, your child is learning important pre-reading skills such as vocabulary development, sound awareness, reading comprehension and letter recognition.
Here are a few tips to engage your child in early literacy activities:
Read to your child every day. Even if it’s just for a few minutes. Even if your toddler forces you to skip pages or chews on the corner of the book.
Talk about the pictures. Ask: what’s happening and why?
Talk about the story. See if your child can tell you what happens next.
Point to words. Run your finger along the words as you read them.
Make it a game. Ask your child to point to certain objects. Use funny voices or make sound effects when telling the story. End story time with tickle time.
Let us know if you have any tips you’d like to share!
