There are six early literacy skills that have been defined by a panel of reading experts. Why are early literacy skills important? They help your child build a foundation to get ready to learn to read and write. One of these skills is phonological awareness, which means understanding that words are made up of combinations of smaller sounds and being able to play with the sounds in words.
A good example of this sound play is rhyming. Nursery rhymes are fun to read and sing. Even though you know your child may be too young to understand what the nursery rhyme is about, it is still good for them to hear the sounds. Did you know that by six months of age, babies already recognize the sounds of the languages they hear? If they don’t hear specific sounds, they lose the ability to recognize them over time. Singing songs also helps your child hear the sounds broken up in different ways. This all works on your child’s phonological awareness!
You can promote your child’s early literacy skills using resources from your library. Our Play as Learning (PAL) bags, on themes from brain development to music, contain books, toys and music or a DVD for young children ages birth to 2 years, as well as a handout of related activities that promote early literacy skills. Our rhyme time resources here at DBRL Kids are another fun tool for playing with sound. Or break out those Mother Goose and Dr. Seuss books (you can box a gox in your gox box socks), and help your kiddos get ready to read!
In the coming weeks we will highlight the other early literacy skills and explain the ways reading, singing, playing and more can give your children the tools to become successful readers.
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