Emergent Literacy is “the knowledge children have about reading and writing before they can actually read and write.” In order to become successful readers, children need to:
- Develop their oral language (e.g. vocabulary and grammar)
- Develop story telling skills
- Be able to understand how words are made up of sounds through activities such as rhyming, clapping syllables and listening to the beginning sounds of words (i.e. “phonological awareness”)
- Gain alphabet knowledge and
- Develop awareness of print
During early speech and language development, children learn skills that are important to the development of literacy. When speech and language skills are delayed, a child may be at increased risk for literacy development. Early identification and intervention of speech, language and communication difficulties can help lessen this risk.
Parents can help their child with language and literacy development by:
- Building your child’s vocabulary by naming objects in your environment, talking about daily routines such as bath and mealtimes.
- Drawing your child’s attention to print in everyday settings such as traffic signs, store logos and food containers.
- Following your child’s interest in books, allowing him/her to choose ones they enjoy and allowing them to participate by turning pages, filling in words, and talking about the pictures.
- Engaging your child in singing, rhyming games and nursery rhymes.
- Reading picture and story books that focus on sounds and rhymes (e.g. Dr. Seuss books; “Silly Sally” by Audrey Wood).
- Pointing to words as you read familiar books over and over again.
- Encouraging your child to describe or tell a story about his/her drawing and write down the words as he/she says it.
- Visiting your local library. Click here for additional library information for this area.
For further information about helping your child with literacy development, click on;
- Read to Your Child
- Literacy Learning Starts at Birth (word document – 2 pages)
- To learn more from our web-site click here for information on Language and Literacy
- List of recommended preschool books to promote speech and language development in young children
- List of resource books and links for parents and professionals
- To learn about adapting books to help children with physical and developmental disabilities to attend to an participate in reading books together, consider attending the Augmentative Communication Service (ACS) workshop called Adaptations to Support Shared Reading.
- KidsAbility PSL works in partnership with a number of community agencies to promote literacy skills in children from birth to 6 years of age through The Early Literacy Alliance of Waterloo Region. Click here to visit their blog.