Why is Early Childhood Literacy Important?

Did you know that literacy begins at birth? That’s what the American Library Association tells us. They say that literacy means more than learning to read. It means building skills around the use of words. Even hearing adults talk starts to lay the groundwork for early childhood literacy.

In other words, we’re not talking about genius babies here. Every child takes steps toward literacy in early childhood. It’s important to guide these steps and grow the tools for school and life. You can nurture a child’s use of language and communication. This can benefit their brain, their behavior and their social skills.

Strong literacy skills can support:

• School success

• Communication skills

• A lifelong interest in learning

What is more, working on these skills together can let you, as a parent or caregiver, better bond with your child. Activities like reading to them, telling stories and counting can all support the skills they’re building.

The early skills, sometimes called preliteracy skills, are highly important. They help ensure that when the time comes to read, a child is ready. Starting school unprepared can make it hard, if not impossible, to catch up. Luckily, working on early literacy at home can be easy and fun.

Cognitive Benefits of Early Childhood Literacy

The American Academy of Pediatrics (APA) says that reading, talking and singing with babies from birth spurs brain development. It’s how they learn words. They also learn to link words to images, which lets them visualize a scene when you tell a story or read to them.

Literacy starts with phonological awareness—which is a fancy way to say that language is made up of sounds. Rhyming, word games and clapping along to words show how to put syllables together. When they start to learn letters, children find out that these letters make certain sounds. By putting sounds together, we form words. Words do everything from letting someone communicate their basic needs to forming great works of literature. It starts with vocabulary. The more words a person knows, the more they can understand what is happening around them, whether in books or in real life. They also have more tools to communicate. Knowing more words leads to doing better in school, as well.

Literacy strengthens the brain in other ways, too. Story time feeds imagination. Telling a child a story might benefit their brain even more than reading them a book. A study showed that blood flow in certain areas of a child’s brain increased when they listened to a story they had not heard before, but the same did not happen with a book.

Listening to a book or story exercises a child’s attention span and concentration and can help them learn to problem solve. Once they learn to read on their own, it can further boost their memory and focus.

Finally, consider the vast amount of subject matter available in books. Kids can learn about history, science, math, nature or just about anything else. When they learn to read on their own, they can find out for themselves what sparks their interest.

Social and Emotional Impact of Early Literacy

Working on literacy skills with a child lets you connect with them emotionally. It can help them connect with others as well. Reading builds empathy in kids. Seeing how characters in a book live, even those in another time or a far-away place, can open little eyes. We all share some of the same feelings and thoughts. Children can see that when they “meet” fictional characters. You can even encourage them. As you read together, try saying things like, “How do you think this character feels right now?”

A story can give a child insight into their own feelings, too. New words increase their ability to label what they feel. The ability to describe feelings is a key part of social-emotional development. That is why, experts say, literacy challenges often go along with behavior issues.

When you read and tell stories, choose ones that show different kinds of feelings. You might start with books about love and giving. It’s okay to talk about negative feelings, too. If a child can explain that they feel sad or angry, for instance, it might minimize acting out.

Academic Success Linked to Early Literacy

As we have said, early literacy sets the stage for school. How well a small child does with words and letters hints at their future reading proficiency. Both reading and writing will become bigger parts of their lives as they move from grade to grade.

Third grade marks an important milestone, according to much of the research. How well a child reads in third grade reveals a lot about their future. It can predict how likely they are to graduate from high school, for example. Early literacy, in turn, is a predictor of success in third grade.

You may hear the term “kindergarten readiness.” Equip a child with the skills they need for kindergarten, then they will more likely succeed in third grade, graduate high school and so on. Literacy lies at the heart of this “readiness.”

Literacy supports learning in other subjects as well. There is a correlation between reading comprehension and student success in math or science.

An early love of reading supports lifelong learning. Kids who learn to learn tend to keep it up as adults. The sky is the limit for what they choose to explore. Their future hobbies, college major or career might start with a book that grabs them in their youth.

How Parents Can Foster Literacy in Early Childhood

Sadly, not all children get an equal chance to build literacy skills. The National Institute for Literacy estimates that more than a third of all American fourth graders read so poorly that they cannot complete their schoolwork well. This number is even higher for children in homes that struggle with poverty.

But you have power! You and others in your family can give young children the gift of literacy. Teachers and researchers recommend a few ways to do that.

The AAP offers “The Five Rs” of healthy brain development. They suggest:

• Read with your child every day.

• Rhyme, play and cuddle with your child every day.

• Develop routines, particularly around meals, sleep and family fun.

• Reward your child with praise for successes to build self-esteem and promote positive behavior

• Praise your child for successes to build self-esteem and promote positive behavior.

Read Together

Read a variety of books. Show them the pictures to reinforce the words. As you read together, ask your child for their input. See how well they grasp the story and not just the individual words. Plan ahead to talk about thoughts and feelings as you read. You might also weave in your own stories or ask the child to make up a story of their own.

Sing and Rhyme

Exercise those literacy muscles even when you’re not reading. Tell each other stories, think of rhyming words, make up short poems or sing songs.

In particular, rhyming builds listening skills and that phonological awareness we talked about at the beginning. Great times to engage in these activities are when you’re driving, making a meal or going for a walk.

Encourage the Child to Read

As a child starts to read themselves, try to make reading exciting. Turn it into a habit. Include plenty of choices and a cozy spot to read. You don’t have to spend a lot of money on books. Take them to the public library or a book fair and start to let them choose their own books as they get older. Look around your neighborhood for Little Free Libraries, too!

Many children (and adults) today read on screens. That’s okay, but try to balance digital and print materials. Research shows that printed work makes us slow down and comprehend more.

You may wonder how to choose the right books. Look for those that are age appropriate, at the right reading level and about an interesting subject. Make sure to try new things, though. A child might discover a whole new subject or style of book. Their tastes can change as they grow, too. Guide them but give them some freedom to choose. Common Sense Media provides a helpful resource for choosing books for children.

Early Childcare That Supports Literacy

Early learning means so much over a lifetime. Early literacy is a big part of that. When you look for a child care provider, keep this in mind. Ask questions about the provider’s approach to literacy and reading. Let them know your child’s current level of literacy. Together, you can support your child in growing up well prepared for school and life.

Explore this page to find child care near you.