The last early literacy skill in our list of 6 is Letter Knowledge.  Letter Knowledge is knowing that letters are different from each other, have different names, and are related to sounds.  Early on it is helpful for children to learn to distinguish different shapes, as later this will help them recognize and make the letters.  Trace letters, play with magnetic letters, encourage drawing and writing, etc.  Alphabet books are fun.  You don’t even have to read the whole book.  Your child might want to stay on the first letter of their name for awhile, or the letter at the beginning of the name of an animal they like, etc.  Keep it fun but keep reading!!

Another early literacy skill is Print Awareness, which includes knowing that print has meaning, how to handle a book, and recognizing environmental print.  Take opportunities to point out print to your child throughout the day, signs, labels, the text in a book you are reading, etc.  Turn the book upside down and point out that you have a hard time reading that way, or that if you start at the end of the book the story doesn’t make sense.  Have fun with it!

Another pre-reading skill that parents and caregivers can help very young children develop is Narrative Skill.  This is the ability to describe things, to tell events in sequence, and to retell stories.  Books with repeated phrases that tell a cumulative tale help children get the idea that things happen in sequence.   Plenty of repetition and opportunities to re-tell or make up their own stories help to cement this skill.  Have your child draw his or her own pictures and tell the story.  Narrate your own day as you go through it and your child will pick it up from you.  Have fun with it!

Another aspect of early literacy is vocabulary, or knowing the names of things.  Children need to know the meaning of the words to understand what they are reading.  If a child has heard a word before it is easier for them to sound it out when they begin to read. Children pick up vocabulary from conversation but it is also important to read to them, as books and stories use many more words than we use in regular conversation.

Phonological awareness is the ability to hear and play with the smaller sounds in words.  This an area of literacy you can help your child develop as you sing together, or clap out rhythms, or have fun with nursery rhymes.

Studies on brain development emphasize the importance of a child’s interaction with adults around reading.  Print motivation is having an interest in and enjoyment of reading.  Parents and caregivers can model that reading is an enjoyable, fun activity.  Children enjoy doing activities with caring adults.  Making reading time fun and non-stressful helps children in the area of print motivation.  You don’t have to try to teach reading, you just need to make shared reading time something that your child looks forward to.

Research shows there are 6 crucial areas that lay the foundation for later reading success.  They are:

1. Print Movivation

2. Phonological Awareness

3. Vocabulary

4. Narrative Skills

5. Print Awareness

6. Letter Knowledge

Parents and caregivers have limitless opportunities throughout the day to help their charges develop in these areas.  Each week we will take a day to highlight one area or activity, and let you know how the library story hour is also supporting these areas.

Today we read Today I Feel Silly and Other Moods That Make My Day by Jamie Lee Curtis.