You have a shelf full of award winning children’s books and yet your child or one of the children you care for wants to hear the Monster at the end of this Book for the thousandth time. Sound familiar? If so, and you can hardly stand to hear yourself read the words one more time, take heart! Hearing the same story over and over is not only cherished by young children, it’s a powerful way to develop their cognitive, emotional, and linguistic skills. Recent research has emphasized the profound benefits of repetitive reading including how it builds brain power and fosters essential skills in an engaging and accessible way. Let’s explore a few ways repeated reading benefits young children:
Perhaps the most significant advantage of repeated reading is the development of language skills. According to a study by Hsin et al. (2020), reading the same book multiple times helps children learn new vocabulary and reinforces their understanding of sentence structure, syntax, and grammar. By reading a book multiple times, these elements become more familiar which supports children’s retention and deeper understanding of language. This is particularly beneficial for young children because it helps them connect spoken and written language, building their linguistic foundation from an early age (Hsin et al., 2020).
It also enhances comprehension skills. When children hear the same story over and over, they begin to anticipate and predict the plot which can foster greater engagement and participation in the reading experience. Plot predictability allows children to shift their focus to deeper aspects of the story including its emotional tone or the relationship between characters. This can build a more nuanced understanding of the material (Sénéchal et al., 2021). Repeated exposure to stories also helps children increase their memory and recall skills as they become more familiar with the content and the themes of a book (Sénéchal et al., 2021).
Reading a book multiple times offers social and emotional benefits as well. Hearing a favorite book multiple times provides children a sense of comfort and security which can support them to navigate emotional challenges and build empathy. For example, stories with themes of friendship, conflict resolution, or personal growth offer children tools for understanding their own emotions and relate to others (Vukovich et al., 2023).
Finally, repeated book reading builds familiarity which allows children to engage with it in various ways over time as they grow. Children often focus on a book’s pictures first, then they may follow the story or memorize parts of it, and then they may start to identify themes or motifs across different books. This progression enhances their critical thinking and analytical skills, preparing them for more complex narratives and learning experiences as they grow (Wang & Chang, 2022).
As recent studies continue to demonstrate, the simple yet powerful practice of repeated book reading is a foundational element of early learning. It offers a variety of cognitive, linguistic, and emotional benefits to young children including strengthening language development, enhancing comprehension, fostering social-emotional skills, and promoting security with the reading process.
Lynne Hall is a research associate at the Indiana Institute on Disability & Community’s Early Childhood Center. She holds a Master of Science in Education and an Indiana instructional teaching license (Early Childhood Education and Services; Elementary/Primary Generalist; Elementary/Intermediate Generalist). She formerly taught preschool in a variety of settings for over 15 years. Her expertise includes early literacy instruction, equitable strategies, and inclusive preschool classroom practices. Email her at hallma@iu.edu
References
Hsin, C. T., Wu, S. Y., & Chen, H. C. (2020). The role of shared reading in early language development: A meta-analysis. Early Childhood Research Quarterly, 53, 126-136. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecresq.2020.02.001
Sénéchal, M., Thomas, E. M., & Monette, S. (2021). Repeated reading and early literacy development: Evidence from a longitudinal study. Journal of Educational Psychology, 113(5), 916-928. https://doi.org/10.1037/edu0000425
Vukovich, J. M., Cummings, R. M., & Walker, S. L. (2023). Emotional development through repeated reading in early childhood. Child Development Perspectives, 17(1), 45-52. https://doi.org/10.1111/cdep.12355
Wang, M., & Chang, C. (2022). The benefits of repeated storytelling: Cognitive and affective outcomes in early childhood. Early Education and Development, 33(3), 456-473. https://doi.org/10.1080/10409289.2022.2039051
Brrr…it’s cold outside and that provides extra opportunities to enjoy some book reading indoors. We know that introducing books to babies and toddlers is a crucial step in fostering early literacy skills, But what if a toddler just doesn’t seem interested or is even resistant to reading? It’s important to first understand what may be contributing to a child’s reluctance and then try some research-based strategies for nurturing a love for books. Research has shown that early exposure to books is foundational for later academic success. In fact, toddlers who engage with books regularly develop stronger vocabulary, listening skills, and cognitive abilities (Ramirez et al., 2022). However, some children may struggle to engage with books. Their reluctance can stem from various factors such as a child’s developmental stage, temperament, or lack of exposure to books (Jones et al., 2021). Even so, there are effective strategies that foster an early interest in books that can be tailored to meet individual children’s needs. Let’s explore some research-based strategies for developing a child’s interest in books.
et al. (2023) highlights that incorporating gestures, sounds, and questions can hold a child’s attention longer. Encourage them to point to pictures, mimic animal sounds, or act out actions in the story. Books with textures, flaps, or buttons also provide sensory experiences that can enhance engagement (Parker & Klein, 2021).
It’s the most wonderful time of the year – a time when people often focus on kindness, love, and generosity- and the perfect time to think about the connection between literacy and social emotional learning. While the role early literacy activities play in fostering cognitive skills, such as language development and literacy proficiency is well known, recent research has revealed the significant impact these activities have on young children’s social-emotional development as well. The early years are critical because not only do they predict future academic success, but also lay the foundation for future emotional regulation, social interaction, and self-awareness. Social-emotional skills encompass the ability to recognize and manage emotions, form healthy relationships, and navigate social environments. Early literacy activities, such as shared reading, storytelling, and exposure to books and songs, offer opportunities to enhance these skills. Let’s explore how early literacy activities can foster empathy, emotional regulation, communication, and the development of a positive sense of self.
2. Enhancing Emotional Regulation
4. Promoting Self-Concept and Confidence
Brrr! For many of us winter is here and it can be daunting to think about how to keep young children engaged during the chilly months ahead. However, winter offers an opportunity to engage children in unique hands-on interactive seasonal-themed activities that promote early literacy skills development. Let’s explore some strategies for supporting early literacy during the winter months.
2. Provide Storytelling and Creative Play Opportunities
4. Recite Rhymes and Poems and Sing Songs
Ensuring early literacy activities are accessible for children with special needs involves addressing their individual strengths and challenges. It is important to adopt a multisensory approach, such as incorporating visual, auditory, and tactile elements, to engage different learning preferences. For children with physical disabilities, materials should be adapted when needed and include things like large-print books, braille, or interactive apps with touch-based input. Modifications such as simplifying instructions, breaking tasks into smaller steps, and offering lots of repetition can also help children with cognitive or developmental delays fully participate in literacy experiences. For children with speech or language impairments, using picture cues, sign language, or augmentative communication devices can support understanding and expression.
Celebrating holidays in early childhood settings is not only fun and exciting, it offers additional opportunities to develop children’s early literacy skills by connecting lessons to occasions occurring both in the context of their daily lives and cultures and those around the world. Holiday literacy lessons involve books, dramatic play, drawing/writing, cooking, crafts, games, etc. that support children’s vocabulary and language acquisition and develop their writing skills. Throughout the season, be sure your lessons and experiences share how diverse cultures celebrate different holidays and pay equal attention to the holidays celebrated by different cultures, especially any that might be unique to the students in your community, such as:
The Thanksgiving holiday is quickly approaching and it frequently sparks interest in storytelling, family traditions, and cultural heritage, all of which can foster foundational literacy skills. Thanksgiving provides a unique opportunity to develop language, comprehension, and social skills when we incorporate literacy activities into our Thanksgiving preparations. Let’s explore some research-informed early literacy strategies to use during Thanksgiving:
Share holiday-specific vocabulary like “feast,” “gratitude,” and “celebration” to expand children’s word knowledge and language proficiency. Caregivers can use these words in sentences and encourage children to do the same, helping them learn the new words in context.
Encourage children to create a “thankfulness” journal or book in which they draw, collage, or write about things they are thankful for. This not only helps them practice writing, but also to think about their personal experiences and practice self-expression.
Lynne Hall, Research Associate, holds a Master of Science in Education and an Indiana instructional teaching license (Early Childhood Education and Services; Elementary/Primary Generalist; Elementary/Intermediate Generalist). She formerly taught preschool in a variety of settings for over 15 years. Her expertise includes early literacy instruction, equity in early childhood education, and inclusive classroom practices.
Music plays an important role in supporting early literacy development. Research shows that integrating music into early childhood education can enhance phonological awareness, vocabulary acquisition, and motor skills which are foundational to reading and writing. Let’s take a closer look at how music fosters early literacy skills.
According to a 2023 study, musical activities can increase children’s vocabulary because songs introduce them to a wide variety of new words in a fun and engaging way. This can reinforce their understanding and retention of language. 
It’s that time of year again. The holidays are approaching and we start thinking about all the fun crafts we can do with our little ones. Yes, crafts are fun and cute, but as with all activities, be sure to consider what makes crafting meaningful for young children and always consider the purpose of the craft (your learning objectives) before identifying a craft to create. That means thinking about what you want children to learn from the craft experience. For very young children the process of creating a craft is where the learning happens, it is not the end product that matters. If all your craft projects look the same, chances are the craft was more adult directed than necessary and the focus may have been on the product rather than the process. Craft products look different as children grow and their conceptual understanding develops. For example, if you create handprint turkeys and the paper/craft feathers are perfectly aligned, the paint handprint is smudge-less, the two googly eyes are in the right place and symmetrical, and the pompom beak is in the center of the face, think about how much child exploration and process actually happened. What did children learn from that experience? Conversely, if your handprint turkeys are different colors because children were able to choose the paint color (yes, even black!), the handprints look more like smashed pumpkins because the children were able to slap their hands and move them on the paper, the eyes (no eyes or lots of eyes) are at the bottom, sides, middle, or top of the page because that’s where children put them, and the pompom beak and paper/craft feathers are everywhere because the children were able to squeeze the glue and navigate where to put them using the entire canvas then they have likely had a completely different experience. If your learning objectives included fine
pencils and forming letters later on. Simple crafts strengthen children’s hand muscles and improve dexterity.
Letter and Sound Recognition: Making an alphabet book or creating letter-shaped collages can directly support early phonological awareness when adults guide conversations about letters and sounds during the activity. This can help children associate letters with their sounds. According to research by Lonigan et al. (2022), these early phonological skills are strong predictors of later reading success. Research by Whitehurst (2022) suggests that children who engage in print-rich environments, where they see words and letters in context, develop better print awareness. Crafting with letters or labeling their work with words can support this skill.
The Autumn season offers numerous opportunities to support early literacy development with its vibrant colors, exciting holidays, and cozy atmosphere. Educators and families can maximize children’s natural curiosity and excitement of this time of year to create meaningful and engaging literacy experiences. Incorporating seasonal themes into literacy activities helps children connect learning to their real world which makes the process more enjoyable and impactful. Let’s explore how you can use fall-themed activities to promote early literacy skills.
Fall brings an abundance of new sights, sounds, and textures, providing the perfect backdrop for building vocabulary. A 2022 study by Zucker et al. found that hands-on, experiential learning activities, such as nature walks, significantly enhanced children’s vocabulary development, especially when paired with rich language input from educators.
5. Fall-Themed Interactive Read-Alouds
that when young children engage in creative art activities, they often narrate their creations, which leads to natural opportunities for early writing and literacy development.
Whether you call it “Show and Tell”, “Sharing Time”, “All About Me” or some other name, providing children opportunities to share information about themselves and their preferences is a classic classroom activity that offers a powerful way to develop early literacy skills, especially in young children. Encouraging children to bring objects from home and describe them to their peers builds essential language, comprehension, and social skills which are foundational for literacy development. Recent research highlights the significance of using “Show and Tell” to promote vocabulary growth, narrative skills, and oral language development.
Show and Tell can also support the literacy development of culturally diverse learners. Research indicates that students from diverse backgrounds, including multi-lingual learners, benefit from strategies like Show and Tell that promote verbal and non-verbal communication (Nutta et al., 2020). Show and Tell offers a way for children to bring in objects that are meaningful in their culture, which supports a sense of belonging while helping their peers learn about different traditions and perspectives. This inclusivity not only enriches the classroom environment but also supports literacy by embedding learning within meaningful, real-life experiences.