Building Early Literacy Skills: What Parents Need to Know

Building Early Literacy Skills: What Parents Need to Know

 As parents, one of the most important gifts you can give your child is a solid foundation in early literacy. Good literacy skills are not just about reading and writing but are the building blocks for learning and success in school life.  The child’s brain grows at a rapid pace in the early years and that's objectively the best time to instil a love for reading, language and communication. Introducing a set of age-appropriate activities and creating a literacy-rich environment will make your child a more confident and capable reader.

In this blog, we will find out what it takes to build early literacy skills and share insights on how parents can support the learning journey of their child from an early age.

Importance of Early Literacy

Early literacy encompasses several skills and knowledge children acquire before starting formal schooling. It comprises the ability to recognize letters, sounds and stories and text comprehension. Early literacy skills form a basis for later academic success, influencing everything from reading comprehension to mathematical skills.

Research has shown that children who are exposed to literacy-rich environments in their early years are more likely to do well in school. By engaging with books, storytelling and language activities, children develop cognitive and language skills that are crucial for future learning. In fact, children who have strong early literacy skills are better equipped to handle more complex academic concepts as they grow.

Create a Literacy-Rich Environment

One of the simplest yet most effective ways to promote early literacy is by creating a literacy-rich environment at home. That does not imply spending a fortune on books or fancy educational tools, what matters most is the everyday interactions that stimulate language development.

Some of the ways through which one can create a literacy-rich environment at home are as follows:

• Read aloud every day: Even before your child can understand the words, they can absorb the rhythm and flow of language. Reading aloud helps them understand the meaning better, promotes vocabulary development and strengthens listening skills.

• Introduce a variety of books: Select books that are age appropriate and diverse in content. For children of a tender age, pictures, nursery rhymes and interactive books that stimulate the child by touch or sound can be incredible learning sources. As they grow older, transition to books with simple stories that spark their imagination.

• Label objects around the home: Label everyday items (such as "door," "window," "table" etc) in the environment and attach corresponding pictures and words to those objects. It makes your child experience the concept of speaking and learning basic words in their daily lives while making connections between their written form and picture form.

• Limit screen time: While technology has its place, excessive screen time can detract from the important face-to-face interactions that help build language and literacy skills. Instead, encourage activities like reading, storytelling and conversation.

Engage Meaningful Conversations

One of the most influential ways for your child to build their early literacy skills is through conversation. From birth, babies are learning to recognize sounds and words and as they grow up, they begin to understand that words have meanings. Engaging your child in meaningful conversations helps build vocabulary, listening skills and an understanding of language structures.

Here are some tips for parents:

• Talk about what you're doing: Whether you're cooking, cleaning, or running errands, describe what you're doing and why. For example, "I'm washing the dishes so we can eat from clean plates." This exposes your child to new vocabulary in context.

• Ask open-ended questions: Encourage your child to think and express themselves by asking questions like "What do you think will happen next in the story?" or ask them "How do you feel about that?"

• Descriptive language: Instead of simply saying, "Look at the dog", say "Look at the big, fluffy brown dog with the long fluffy tail". This will allow them to grow their vocabulary and have a better understanding of the language.

• Listen actively: When your child is talking, give him your undivided attention. Active listening not only encourages them to continue talking but also validates their ideas and thoughts.

Phonemic Awareness: The Foundation of Reading

Phonemic awareness involves having the ability to know and manipulate the sounds, or phonemes, that make up words. This is an important skill in early literacy because it directly links to a child's ability to decode or sound out words when they begin to read.

Here are some fun ways to help students develop phonemic awareness at home:

• Play rhyming games: Rhymes are one of the most excellent ways to make your child aware of the sounds in words. Singing songs, reading rhyming books, or even making up your own rhymes can help children develop this important skill.

• Clap out syllables: As you say words, encourage your child to clap for each syllable. For example, for the word "banana," clap three times: ba-na-na.

• Sound out words: As your child grows older, practice sounding out words together. Break words down into their individual sounds, such as “cat” (c-a-t). This helps build the skills needed for reading.

Encourage Writing and Drawing

Writing is closely related to reading and can be started as early as possible. Start encouraging your child to express their ideas on paper through writing or drawing. Even though your child may be too young to form letters, they can draw pictures or scribble to express their ideas and thoughts.

•Establish a writing habit: Teach your child to write or draw daily. Encourage them to write their name, draw pictures of their favourite things, or tell stories through pictures.

• Model writing:  Let your child see you writing. Whether you’re making a grocery list or writing a note, explaining the process of writing helps them understand the importance of this skill.

Model Reading and Writing Behaviours

Children learn by observation, so it is crucial that you model good reading and writing behaviours. Ensure your child sees you reading books, newspapers or magazines regularly. Let them see that reading is not only for school but also an enjoyable activity that forms part of daily life. Put aside some time for reading together every day and share with your child how much you enjoy reading, whether it is a picture book, a magazine, or a novel.

After your child finishes reading a book, ask your child about it. Discuss the characters, the story, and what they liked or didn't like. This develops comprehension skills.

Be Patient and Encourage a Love of Learning

Be patient and encouraging throughout your child's literacy journey. All children learn at their own pace and will encounter ups and downs along the way. Celebrate small achievements, such as his first recognition of a letter, sounding out a word or writing their name.

Encouraging a love of learning and developing a positive attitude toward reading is an important foundation to provide for your child. Remember that early literacy encompasses not only learning to read and write but to actually enjoy reading books, stories and communication in general.