As we know, and research supports, young children’s literacy development is crucial to building a foundation for future language acquisition, communication skills, and later reading success (National Early Literacy Panel [NELP], 2008). Springtime provides a wonderful opportunity to foster children’s literacy skills by offering new experiences and vibrant outdoor settings that can ignite children’s natural… Read more »
Yes, Rest Time Reading Matters!
Whether it be naptime or bedtime, reading to young children before they go to sleep fosters several developmental skills, including language acquisition, cognitive growth, and emotional bonding. A consistent rest time reading routine promotes early literacy and strengthens the caregiver-child relationship which supports future learning and well-being. Let’s take a closer look at the benefits… Read more »
Making Story Time Magical: Fun Ways to Involve Young Children
Engaging young minds by making story time interactive fosters their early literacy and cognitive skills development. Caregivers and educators can significantly enhance language acquisition, imagination, and social skills by making story time interactive. Recent research has found that interactive story time has a positive impact on children’s brain development, imagination, language, and learning. Interactive story… Read more »
“Digital Learning or Digital Delay? How Screen Time Affects Early Literacy”
In today’s digital age, screen time has become a routine part of children’s lives, even at a young age. We constantly have smartphones, tablets, and computers at our fingertips and concerns have emerged about how screen time influences developmental milestones, particularly in literacy. Birth to age 5 is a critical period for language and literacy… Read more »
Signs of Success: How Baby Sign Language Boosts Early Literacy Skills
We know that reading and talking with children are key to developing children’s early literacy skills, but did you know that using baby sign language, a system of hand gestures used to communicate before young children are able to speak, is another great strategy? Recent research has shown that teaching babies and toddlers sign language… Read more »
The Power of Pictures: How Book Illustrations Boost Early Literacy
Yes, the pictures do matter! Illustrations are more than just decorative elements, they are a key part of books that support children’s early literacy skills. Recent research emphasizes the significant impact of visual elements on young readers’ cognitive and language development. Let’s explore how the illustrations in children’s books foster early literacy skills. Enhance Comprehension… Read more »
The Ultimate in Multi-Tasking: Developing Early Literacy Skills During Chores
So much to do and so little time. When you are busy trying to get everything done, it’s easy to overlook the potential for teaching early literacy skills during everyday chores. However, research suggests that daily tasks like picking up, cooking, washing dishes, folding laundry, and cleaning offer rich, natural opportunities for children to develop… Read more »
“Again!, Again!”: It’s the Best Thing to Hear During Storytime
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,… Read more »
“From ‘No’ to ‘Go’: Fun Ways to Encourage Young Children to Enjoy Reading”
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… Read more »
Growing Minds and Hearts: How Early Literacy Supports Social-Emotional Learning
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… Read more »