Early Childhood Literacy can be made Enjoyable and Successful

Early childhood literacy is important and happens at a time in a child's life when learning occurs at a fast rate.

Children will start to learn about writing and reading even before formal education at school begins. Children are surrounded by language - words, print, books, letters, signs etc that they quickly learn has meaning.

But it is important, how you as a parent guide and support literacy in the early years. Kerrie Shanahan (2005) in her book Springboard to Reading and Writing, has some great suggestions as to encouraging early childhood literacy. The following are some of her suggestions with activities and ideas you can use:

• Create a positive environment: make your child feel safe and happy by giving many opportunities for different types of play.

• Have a good collection of books and reading materials for your child. Allow them to develop a love of stories and reading. Junk Mail toy catalogues are a very popular reading material in my house around Birthdays and Christmas and can create many reading and writing experiences

• Make it exciting: provide materials that children will be excited to use - For writing provide special pens and papers, colours, glitter etc to decorate. Make reading exciting by using voices, dressing up or using finger puppets

• Develop your child's confidence: create opportunities that make them successful

• Be positive: give positive feedback when your child makes attempts at reading and writing. Help them Believe in Themselves

• Be a good role model: model good reading and writing behaviours showing your child that you can enjoy and use in everyday life

• Encourage Risk Taking: accept your child's early reading and writing attempts. Accept their sensible approximations and reinforce that we can all make mistakes but we learn by giving things a go

• Display your child's work: show their achievements by having a special place at home, send/give them to friends and family, maybe good presents for grandparents or a make a special scrapbook keeping some of their best pieces

  Reference: (Shanahan, K.,(2005) Springboard to reading and writing How parents can help their children 4 to 6 years. Australia:Ibis Publishing)

There is always something to do that will give your child a love of learning.

To create a literacy rich environment of speaking, listening, reading and possible writing activities, have a look at KidsLearningisfun's Magnetic songs where a range of literacy activities can emerge.

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Helping Parents Support Their Children's Learning