Early Literacy Skills
Ready to Read
Early literacy is what children know about reading and writing before they can actually read and write. Early literacy skills are the roots of reading success -- and it is never too early to plant the seed!
Children prepare to read long before they enter school. In fact, early literacy skills begin to develop right from birth. A child's positive early experiences with books and language lay the foundation for success in learning to read. Using the five early literacy practices listed below, there is so much you can do to help build reading readiness.
TALKING with you helps children learn! Whether your child is babbling or speaking words, the more you respond the more they will learn.
SINGING slows down language so children hear the different sounds that make up words. This helps when they begin to read printed language.
READING together – shared reading – is the single most important way to help children get ready to read.
WRITING and reading go together. Talking with your child about their scribbles and drawings helps them make the connection between spoken and printed language.
PLAYING pretend helps children think symbolically. This helps them understand that spoken and written words can stand for real objects and experiences.
Tips to Encourage Early Literacy Skills
- Read together every day. Your child will learn that reading and spending time together is important.
- Make reading time a warm and happy experience. If your child loses interest, put the book away for another time.
- Point to objects in the book’s illustrations and encourage your child to describe what they see.
- Tell your child the names and sounds of letters and words you see everywhere: books, food packages, traffic signs, store signs.
- Show your child how useful print is in daily life: making a grocery list, reading a recipe, following an instruction manual or finding directions on a map.
Early Childhood Milestones
The link below provides basic information about the different general developmental milestones of early childhood. Knowing a bit about these milestones is helpful for figuring out the kinds of supports that infants and pre-schoolers need - including early literacy supports.
As with all milestones for child development, these are a guideline only. Each child and their development is unique.
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Developmental Milestones - Centre for Disease ControlUser-friendly information about developmental milestones broken down by age from 2 months to 5 years
Early Literacy Milestones (up to age 6)
The sites below provide basic information about children's developmental milestones related to early literacy. As you will learn it is never to early to start supporting early literacy skills. As with all milestones for child development, these are a guideline only. Each child and their development is unique.
- Read, speak, sing to your baby: How parents can promote literacy from birth - Caring for Kids, Canadian Pediatric SocietyA practical page with tips for what caregivers can do to promote early literacy. It includes a table - broken down by age from 0-24 months - about how to use books and their own interactions to support early literacy.
- Reading Milestones - Kids HealthReading milestone information for infants to age 13.
- Literacy Development for Kids - PBSReading, writing, listening and talking milestones for babies to grade 3.
Brain Development in the Early Years
The human brain goes through an enormous amount of growth and development during the first few years of life.
The links below provide basic information about brain development in infants and toddlers, with a focus on what parents and caregivers can do to support children's development and future learning.
- In Brief: The Science of Early Childhood Development - Centre for the Developing Child, Harvard UniversityA user-friendly introduction to the basics of brain development in infants and young children.
- This video is a very useful introduction to the basics of early childhood development and the supports that caregivers should offer to children.
