Early Literacy Fun - Writing

Who says two year olds can’t write? Sure, most two year olds are not writing what we would recognize as letters, but their toddler doodling is developing the fine motor skills and symbolic thinking necessary to turn those scribbles into letters, words and eventually whole stories all their own! Writing also helps develop letter knowledge and print awareness - the understanding that the printed word carries special meaning and enables one to be understood. Here are some fun and easy ways to bring more writing into your child’s life.

• Have crayons and scrap paper available to write with during play time.
• Bring sidewalk chalk outside to write on the driveway or sidewalks around your home.
• Use a stick to write letters and shapes in the sand or dirt while at the beach or on a hike.
• Use shaving cream or pudding as finger paints and write letters and words into them.
• Add some magnetic alphabet letters to the front of the fridge to play with while you are cooking.
• When you finish a craft project take time to ask your child what they made and write their description on the piece along with their name.
• Have your child write their own name when sending out cards or letters to friends and family. Even if it’s illegible, they will feel proud to have done it.
• Bring crayons and notepads with you when making trips to places where the kids might have to sit and wait for a while.
• Give blank notepads as stocking stuffers or in birthday goodie bags to encourage your children’s scribbling.
• Use blank paper folded in half and stapled to make little books for your child to write their own story in.

Early Literacy Fun - Reading

Reading is a cornerstone of education and communication in our world today. Children that start school with the foundational skills to be ready to read are less likely to fall behind their peers and more likely to be successful in academics throughout life. Reading together helps to build all of the six pre-reading skills: letter knowledge, phonological awareness, print awareness, narrative skills, vocabulary and print motivation. It also helps to build those caring relationships with one another that are vital not only for learning but for life! Here are some fun ways to incorporate reading into your daily life together.

• Read environmental print like road signs, cereal boxes, shampoo bottles and leaflets.
• Have books available for your child to explore on their own. Board books and cloth books are great. Even though they aren’t really reading yet, just exploring the books, turning pages and even chewing on them are all steps towards reading on their own down the road.
• Read chapter books together with pre-schoolers. Even though they can’t read these on their own yet children need not wait until their school years to enjoy a chapter book. Try sharing one of your favorites from childhood!
• Try some wordless picture books. Though there are no printed words to read in these books, there are still stories to be shared. Wordless picture books allow children to create their own stories based on their experiences.
• Listen to a book on CD together when on road trips.
• Bring more environmental print into your home by labeling things like walls, doors, chairs and tables.
• Give books for Christmas and birthday presents to show your child that books are special and fun.
• Model reading for your children. Let them see you reading books, magazines and newspapers at home.
• Create a book nook in a playroom, bedroom or family space with soft cushions to sit on and easy access to books.
• Don’t be afraid to repeat what you’ve read. Kids love novelty, but they also love repetition. So if they have a favorite book they request often - read it again, and again, and again.
• Make your own books featuring your neighborhood, family, friends and favorite activities.

Happy Read Across America Day!

Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss!

Today is Read Across America Day, celebrated annually on Thedor Seuss Geisel's birthday, March 2.

Check out the official website at National Education Association. There are some great links there and information about reading, including several articles from Parenting Magazine, such as "12 reading activities to encourage early literacy skills in your kid" which provides some great tips for helping your young children learn to read and get off on the right foot in their education.

Introduction to the 6 Pre-Reading Skills

The focus of pre-reading skills is not on teaching children to read at an early or young age. If your child does learn to read before they get to school, then great! The point of pre-reading skills for parents, caregivers, librarians and early childhood educators is to lay a strong foundation of literacy skills necessary for learning to read successfully once a child reaches school. The 6 Skills we build through singing songs, talking a lot (even before our kids can talk back!) and of course - sharing books together!

These are the 6 skills, with a short description, check back in coming weeks for more books and activities to help foster these skills with the kiddos in your life!

Print Motivation - I like books!

Print Awareness - Those squiggles on the page mean something.

Phonological Awareness - I know the sounds of language.

Narrative Skills - Telling stories is fun!

Letter Knowledge - Now I know my ABCs!

Vocabulary - I know a lot of great words.

Great NPR Feature on Vocabulary Development

Closing The Achievement Gap With Baby Talk

Children from low-income families hear significantly fewer words in childhood on average than children from more well-to-do backgrounds. This disparity often effects their ability to learn to read once school starts and in so doing perpetuates the cycle of poverty.

If the value of reading to your children was never clear, I hope this article will help to highlight the importance!