Simple Ways to Teach Early Literacy at Home!

Simple Ways to Teach Early Literacy at Home

Parents and other caregivers have an important role to play as young children begin to build reading and other literacy skills. In fact, studies show that reading to a child out loud is one of the most important ways they first develop language. 

The early education staff at Emporia Public School loves partnering with families to build these skills. Here are five things they encourage any caring adult to do that will help infants, toddlers, and preschoolers embark on a bright future. 

1. Don’t wait to start. Reading to babies helps nurture healthy brain development. It’s also the perfect time to sit together, slow down, and snuggle. 

2. Make time for reading in your daily routine. Naptime and bedtime are natural opportunities, but each family is unique. The important thing is taking the time to read and enjoy being together. 

3. Read and re-read the favorites. It may seem dull to you, but children love to hear the same book repeatedly. In fact, repetition is one way to support learning — when you notice a favorite, allow them to complete favorite phrases or sentences as you go. 

4. Take turns. Whether it’s a new book or a well-read favorite, encourage your toddler or preschooler to tell the story, predict what happens next or identify favorite images or words on the page. Listen and react as they share their ideas with you. 

5. Have fun with it. Add a new layer of fun to any book by changing your voice and inflection as you read. Doing this in similar ways as you re-read favorite books can help your child begin to remember the words.

More than anything, just make time to read together — and keep going, from birth until the child prefers to read independently (usually not before first or second grade). Parents and caregivers who find a few minutes a day to read with a young child will be rewarded with an exciting journey of learning and development, as well as fond memories that last a lifetime.