Building Your Child's Early Literacy Skills
Early Literacy Skills:
Laying the Foundation for Reading Success
Conversation - your child's ability to speak to others, to understand others, and to be understood.
Vocabulary - your child's ability to use and understand a variety of words.
Comprehension - your child's ability to listen for understanding.
Print Knowledge - your child's awareness of written language in the environment. For example, an awareness that letters form words, and words represent thoughts and ideas.
Sound Awareness - your child's awareness that speech can be broken down into smaller units. For example, an awareness that words can be broken down into syllables and individual sounds.
Activities to Build Your Child's Early Literacy Skills
- Shopping - Make a shopping list together with your child, reading and pointing to the words after you write them. Look at the store flyer together and take the list to the store. When you arrive at the store, read from your list. Point out print on price tags and package labels as you shop.
- In the Car or On a Walk - Play a guessing game. Take turns thinking of words that start with the same sound. For example, "I'm thinking of an animal that starts with the 'b' sound." Add clues, "It likes to build a damn and a home of sticks." Or find things that rhyme, "I see something that rhymes with bye." It's also a great time for conversation and for highlighting new words, like 'pavement,' and 'dusk'.
