Learning and growth in a child’s life is constant. Their first teacher is their parents, guardians, or caregivers. The community and world around them also contribute a great deal to a child’s growth. Learning in early life before school comes in the form of speaking, playing, interacting, and exploring the world. The formal name that has been given to these methods of learning is Early Literacy. We at the library want you to know that it’s so much more than just teaching children how to read. Early literacy is the inheritance of a love of learning about the world. There are six components to formal early literacy practices. Giving the child in your life these six building blocks to succeed at learning will help them physically, socially, emotionally, and mentally, be ready for any classroom they find themselves in. They are as follows:
- Oral Language
- Phonological Awareness
- Print Awareness
- Letter Knowledge
- Vocabulary
- Background Knowledge of the World.
In proceeding blog posts, there will be discussion on these six ideas in more detail. Don’t be intimidated by this breakdown of early literacy! Children watch and pay attention to the world around them. They catch this knowledge through playing, singing, talking, being read to, and even scribbling on a page. Those five actions are the key ways to put early literacy into practice, and the opportunities to turn everyday life into learning experiences are endless. The most important aspect of all of this is fun. Linking fun to learning is a sure way to cultivate a love for reading. This is why imagination and play are so important. Libraries are determined to help caregivers as much as possible to learn the skills and methods to make early literacy development an everyday experience. Mesa County Libraries has the 1000 Books Before Kindergarten program to promote reading, story times to promote singing and interacting with text, and take and make kits to promote creativity. Know that you’re not alone in this journey and we are always here to help. Click HERE for further reading on early literacy tips, tricks, and information.