Early literacy tips
- Reading together is one of the most effective ways to support early literacy development and help children become proficient readers.
- Early literacy includes understanding how a book works, vocabulary development, narration skills (ex. storytelling), recognizing and naming letters, and knowing letter sounds, rhymes, and syllables.
- Reading one book a day = 365 books in one year, 730 books in two years, and 1,095 books in three years!
- Reading with your child is a fun bonding experience that strongly supports their literacy development and creates fun, lifelong memories!
Early literacy skill development includes:
- How to read a book; print awareness
- Vocabulary development
- Learning to tell a story; narrative skills
- Recognizing and naming letters
- Understanding letter sounds
- Rhymes and syllables
Nurture early literacy
- Encourage your family to have fun reading together! Read with expression and enthusiasm. Create a routine for family storytimes such as including stories into your nightly bedtime schedule.
- Each child is unique and you know your child best! Talk. Listen. Engage by asking questions. Repeat over and over. If your child likes to move around while listening to a story, that is okay! Try reading an interactive book or a book that requires the reader to participate.
- When you read, talk, sing and play together, you help to develop your child's knowledge about reading and writing. Children learn best by doing - and they love doing things with you! Be silly. Have fun!
- It's never too early (or too late) to start learning! Join a weekly story time at the Library. All programs are free. They encourage a lifelong love of reading while supporting early literacy skill development. Plus they are super fun! Check out the events calendar to register.
- Visit your neighbourhood library location often with your child. Let them pick out books on their favourite topics and they’ll read more often if it interests them!