What is Early Literacy?
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.
Read, Rhyme, & Romp features interactive play, storytelling, and music appropriate for children ages infant to three years old with a parent or caregiver. These classes focus on early literacy: the pre-reading and pre-writing skills that children need to learn in the first three years of life. Having strong early literacy skills when beginning school is a prime indicator of future success. Let us show you how you can help your child build strong literacy skills every day with our fun, free, and informational 20-minute classes.
