It's More Than Reading And Writing

Most parents know that reading and writing is so important for children. How words help us to understand our world and make the most of opportunities is much more than reading and writing. This is called literacy.

The word literacy often makes people think of school and many parents expect that literacy will be taught to their children once they start school. Children do not wait until they start school to develop literacy skills. From birth, babies and children are learning all the time.

Literacy is a part of everyone’s daily life. The experiences that are given to children influence their knowledge and understanding of their world.

Children need opportunities to practice the skills they know and are able to do in order to become confident learners. In everyday activities and in your relationship with your children, you have a wonderful opportunity to help them develop literacy skills.

Literacy was once seen as reading and writing. Now literacy is seen as much more; it is language we use in:

• speaking and listening
• reading and watching
• drawing and writing.

Literacy development begins in the family and continues in families and communities as well as in schools.

Years of research show clearly that children are more likely to succeed in learning when their families actively support them. When you and other family members read with your children, help them with homework, talk with their teachers, and participate in school or other learning activities, you give your children a tremendous advantage.

Other than helping your children to grow up healthy and happy, the most important thing that you can do for them is to help them develop their literacy skills. It is no exaggeration to say that how well children learn to read and write affects directly not only how successful they are in school but how well they do throughout their lives. When children learn to read and write, they have the keys that open the door to all the knowledge of the world. 

The foundation for developing literacy skills is in place long before children enter school and begin formal reading instruction. You and your family help to create this foundation by talking, listening, and reading to your children every day and by showing them that you value, use, and enjoy reading in your lives.

You could say that your child starts on the road to becoming literate on the day they’re born and first hears the sounds of your voice. Every time you speak to your child, sing to your child, and respond to the sounds that they makes, you strengthen your child's understanding of language. With you to guide them, they are well on their way to literacy.

To understand the connection between a child's early experiences with spoken language and literacy, you might think of language as a four-legged stool. The four legs are talking, listening, reading, and writing. All four legs are important; each leg helps to support and balance the others.  

Talk with and listen to your child. Read together with them. Help your child learn about books and print. Take advantage of the public libraries. Encourage your child’s early writing efforts. These are all ways to support the development of literacy skills in your children.

As a parent, you are your child's first and most important teacher. You don't need to be the best reader to help—your time and interest and the pleasure that you share with your child as part of reading together are what counts. For more ways to help develop reading, writing, and over all literacy skills with your child, contact their classroom teachers. They are more than willing to support and encourage your efforts at home as we work together to open the world of knowledge for your child’s future.