Some might believe…

…that kids’ literacy development starts when they’re 5 to 7 years old, when they’re formally learning to read and write in school. But even before 5, their bright little minds seek to explore every nook and cranny of the world around them, including books and stories. During preschool years, children take an active interest in reading and writing. 

     At preschool age, children often enjoy listening to books read aloud by parents and loved ones. They excitedly attempt to retell all the stories they’ve been told and like talking about the stories they’ve read. After watching their parents and loved ones reading books, they know that people read books left to right, top to bottom, and will hold books and pretend to read them out loud, though they can’t read what the book actually says yet. Preschoolers often try to write out their own names and familiar phrases they’ve heard around the home. 

    At 3 to 4 years of age, children’s reading accomplishments soar to new heights. By these ages, kids are able to recognize about half of the alphabet, including the letters in their names and some familiar words. They’re also able to match these letters to the sounds they make. As they develop more knowledge on the connection between different sounds and letters, they begin to recognize their name in writing along with some familiar signs and logos they see around the house and in the community often.

   With each year in a child’s life, their small hands grip the rungs of the literacy ladder a little tighter. Their little legs grow a little less and less shaky as they challenge themselves to go a little bit higher. Each skill they master steadies the ladder, and each new skill they discover creates a new rung on the ladder, opening a new path before them. Even as a preschooler, children can accomplish so much and are so eager and curious about reading and writing. Make sure to bolster their excitement and cheer them on as they climb to new literacy heights!