By Chaise Carter, Director of Youth Services
While children may not learn to read until they’ve started school, there are many things that caregivers can do to help develop their child’s pre-reading skills and get them ready to learn to read! Easy ways to introduce those pre-reading skills are through the five practices of Every Child Ready to Read. These practices are: Reading, Writing, Singing, Playing and Talking.
Reading: Reading together develops vocabulary and comprehension, nurtures a love for reading, and motivates children to want to learn to read.
Talking: Talking with children helps them learn oral language, one of the most critical early literacy skills.
Singing: Singing develops language skills and slows down language so children can hear the different sounds in words, as well as helps children learn new words and information.
Playing: Playing alongside your child, whether through symbolic play, dramatic play, or roleplaying, helps develop language. Through play, they are able to learn new words, become creative problem solvers, and learn social skills.
Writing: Writing allows children to become aware that printed letters stand for spoken words as they see print used in their daily lives.
Did you know, we have a year-round reading program called “1000 Books Before Kindergarten”? Sign up for 1KB4K here!
To celebrate the start of a new school year, we have created an Early Literacy Activitities Calendar. This calendar gives daily opportunities for you to practice the five early literacy principles mentioned above!
For a limited time, caregivers who sign their child up for our “1000 Books Before Kindergarten” program will receive one of these special edition printed calendars (available while supplies last). Already signed up for the program? A digital download copy of the calendar is available here!