Language & Literacy
LANGUAGE AND LITERACY
Language and literacy growth involves expressing oral and written thoughts. Have conversations with your child and use complete sentences and proper English as mush as possible. Increase your child’s vocabulary by going to as many different kinds of places as possible (zoo, beach, museum, grocery store, hospital, school, etc.). Eventually, this area is responsible for reading. Knowing letters and sounds is important, however; knowing how to open and hold a book, knowing the difference between letters, words and pictures, and predicting and making up stories to go with pictures are also meaningful. The most important part of this area of growth is the opportunity to use books. Go to the library, have books around the house and read every day.
Language/ Literacy Development Support
Important Skills Needed for School Readiness
- Asks & answers questions
- Speaks clearly
- Pays attention to people and stories
- Takes turns during conversations
- Follows directions
Social/ Emotional Development Activities
- Read with Me – an activity for 3-4 year olds which introduces a child to books and helps them to understand and talks about them using the books “The Three Bears”, “The Little Red Hen” and “The Three Billy Goats Gruff”, and some arts and crafts materials (yarn, scissors, pipe cleaners, beads, etc.)
- Fun with Sounds - an activity for 3-4 year olds which helps a child understand the sounds made by letters using the book “My Very First Mother Goose” by Iona Archibald Opie.
- Playing with Letters – an activity for 3-4 year olds which introduces a child to letters and gives them an awareness of print using a box of foam or magnetic letters and the book “Chicka Chicka Boom Boom” by Bill Martin Jr. and John Archambault.
- We Can Write – an activity for 3-4 year olds which helps a child to understand the purpose of writing and practice writing skills using a dry erase marker and board, paper, sidewalk chalk, pens, and pencils.
- Reading Time – an activity for 0-2 year olds which introduces a child to language by looking at books using the book “Pat the Bunny” by Dorothy Kunhardt.
Support Ideas
- Talk to your child daily
- Read to and with your child daily
- Point out letters and numbers
- Help your child learn their ABC’s and 1,2,3′s
- Help your child use hand and eye muscles together
- Play games and sing with your child
- Draw and write together