What can I do to help my child develop early literacy skills?

Learning to read and write does not happen naturally without adult guidance. During the preschool years, children need adults to show them the different ways that print is used in our world. Children need to have conversations with caring adults, and they need adults to teach them the skills that they will need to be able to read.

  • Take your child to your local libraries story hour.
  • Expose them to songs, rhymes, picture books and finger plays.
  • Point to and read street and building signs to your child.
  • Have your child find the first letter in his name on a sign.
  • Encourage children to clap out the syllables of words.
  • Put letter shaped magnets on your refrigerator.
  • Allow children to retell a story you read to them.
  • Sing rhyming chants.
  • Search for things on the page that begin with a particular letter.
  • Play with felt or foam letters.
  • Check out books from the library for children as young as babies.
  • Talk to your child. Point out things around you and call them by name, size, and color.
  • Limit television watching and be very selective of the programming.

 

This report was made possible by grant number 90LO0071 from the Child Care Bureau, Administration on Children, Youth and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not represent the official views of the funding agency, nor does publication in any way constitute an endorsement by the funding agency.

The resources listed on this site provide an overview of the resources available. The National Children's Advocacy Center does not endorse any organization, publication or resource.