Early literacy refers to the pre-reading and pre-writing skills a child should know before starting kindergarten. Every Child Ready to Read has defined 5 early literacy practices to help parents and caregivers nurture early literacy anytime, anywhere.

The 5 practices are:
Talk, Read, Sing, Write, Play

· Talk about the activity or book you are sharing with your child.
· Sing or make up songs while doing chores, building blocks, etc.
· Read books, magazines, road signs, and more with your child.
· Write the letters of the alphabet, create a story, or draw shapes.
· Play with words, books, or toys to reinforce your child’s early literacy skills.

What is S.T.E.A.M. or S.T.E.M. learning?

The acronym refers to 5 educational disciplines that children should experience:

• Science
• Technology
• Engineering
• Art (not a part of STEM learning)
• Mathematics

Why is it important?

Not only do children need early literacy skills to prepare them for future learning, they also need basic S.T.E.A.M. concepts to help them excel in school.

Basic S.T.E.A.M. concepts include, but are not limited to:
• Shapes
• Counting
• Using crayons, pencils, and markers
• Building with blocks
• Listening to music
• Talking about the weather
• Cooking
• And MUCH more

Visit Every Child Ready to Read, or click here for more early literacy resources.