Research shows so many benefits to introducing literacy in early childhood. As a parent, you probably want to inspire a love of literacy and reading in your child. But how can you do this?
Reading benefits children in many ways. It exposes them to new ideas and concepts. Stories can spark the imagination and instill values.
Reading connects people from different cultures and viewpoints from all around the world. It opens new doors to places most people will never visit in their lifetime.
Literacy is an essential aspect of kindergarten readiness. Many parents believe they need to invest in expensive tech products or extensive pre-reading classes for preschoolers. However, instilling a love of literacy doesn’t take much more than the right materials and time.
This article will explore the importance of literacy in early childhood. You will learn why literacy is critical and how to support your little learner’s love of reading from an early age.
Reach out to the educators at New Horizons to explore our enriching early learning programs. You may also schedule a tour of our center. We look forward to meeting you and your family soon!
Why is Literacy Important for Preschoolers?
Literacy means more than just learning to read. Literacy means having a solid vocabulary, recognizing letters and sounds, and being able to express yourself. Research has found that children who attend high-quality early learning programs have better literacy skills than those who don’t.
Literacy develops through activities and exposure. Here is an overview of some essential literacy skills for preschoolers.
Phonemic awareness
Phonemic awareness means the ability to work with individual sounds in spoken words. Young children with phonemic awareness can break down words into separate sounds, blend sounds, and think about the sounds that make up words.
Phonemic awareness is important because it can help children read and spell later on.
Phonological awareness
Phonological awareness is the ability to recognize and play with spoken sentences and words. This includes:
- Recognizing rhyming words
- Noticing alliteration
- Breaking up sentences into individual words
- Identifying a word’s syllables
Phonological awareness is an important part of a child’s cognitive development. It is critical for reading comprehension and verbal communication.
Listening comprehension
Listening comprehension means being able to take in and process auditory information. It includes:
- Passive listening, such as listening to music
- Listening to the details of a story, such as the order of events
- Determining the main idea of a story or summarizing information
- Evaluating information
Listening comprehension is essential because it allows children to hear and understand directions. It also determines if a child can listen to a story or other information and determine the important details.
Vocabulary development
A child’s vocabulary grows when they hear a wide range of words. Researchers have found that children in low-income homes may have a “word gap” of up to 3 million words by the time they are three years old. This means that these children hear 3 million fewer spoken words in the first three years of life.
Having a rich vocabulary helps children understand and express ideas more clearly. Children develop stronger vocabularies by hearing others speak. Reading aloud can greatly increase the number of words a child hears in the earliest years.
Early childhood education programs and parental support can help children gain critical literacy skills.
Literacy Activities for Preschoolers
You don’t need high-tech solutions to promote literacy in preschoolers. Here are some simple language and literacy activities that can teach children important skills and a love of reading.
Talk to your child
Talk to your child as soon as they are born. Babies can’t respond, but their brains are soaking up your words and making critical connections. Use simple words to narrate your day.
As your child grows, continue to speak to them. Continue to narrate what you are doing as you go about your day.
Ask them questions and read signs out loud. Describe everyday objects. The more you talk to your child, the more words they will learn.
Read out loud
Researchers have found that reading aloud is the best thing adults can do to support a child’s developing literacy skills. Start early. Read books out loud every day–many times a day, if possible.
Provide books
Make books accessible in your home. Provide sturdy cloth or board books for your baby to explore. As your child grows, ensure there are plenty of books around the house.
Access to books is one of the best ways to develop a young child’s fine motor skills. It can help them learn the letters of the alphabet and foster a lifelong love of reading.
Visit the library
Visiting the library opens up a world of new books and literacy activities. Attend storytimes, puppet shows, and other family events. Create a scavenger hunt for your child to find different areas of the library.
Make it a weekly event to return old books and check out new ones. Get excited about reading the new books each week.
Model reading
Children learn about the importance of reading by watching parents and caregivers. If you do not read a lot, start now. Let your children see you reading often.
Talk about the books you’re reading and tell them interesting things you’ve learned in books. Ask them about their favorite books, too.
At New Horizons, we understand the importance of early literacy skills. Our enriching programs support children’s love of reading and can help them develop critical kindergarten readiness skills.
Contact us today to learn about our programs or schedule a tour of our incredible learning center.
