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Play is critical to literacy development in young children. It allows them to use their curiosity and creativity, develop critical thinking skills, experiment with language, engage with different styles of text, and strengthen focused attention. In the resources below, you’ll learn about the lasting impact of play-based learning on literacy development, and how you can best support your child’s growth through play. Covered in this guide:
Every child has their own unique interests. Find ways that spark your child’s interests and engage your child in literacy play.
Young Preschoolers: Can copy simple lines and shapes
Older Preschoolers: Can create letter-like shapes, letters, and words with adult help
A foundational part of literacy in early childhood is language development. Starting in infancy, one of the best ways to support language development is talking and listening to your child.
Labeling and describing things in your child’s environment. (e.g. “I see the big, blue garbage truck.”)
Give your child a crayon or pencil with some paper and let them start scribbling away. Teach your child how to hold the pencil properly and practice together. This will help their fine motor skills and strengthen their hand and finger muscles so they can really start to write and draw. Here are some other tools and activities to support fine motor development and early writing skills.
Paintbrush, water, and the back fence or side of the house
Using crayons, markers, and colored pencils on blank paper
Using child-safe scissors
Sidewalk chalk on a concrete space outside or on black paper
Legos or other small building materials (children over 3 years)
Self-feeding and picking up foods, like puffs, cereal, etc.
Playdough, sand, and other sensory items that allow for scooping and dumping
Cooking – kneading, stirring, whisking, and rolling
Learning the ABCs is just one part of literacy development. Children are motivated to learn letters in their name first. They will find pride in recognizing and identifying their letters. Remember, young children learn best not with flash cards but through play.
Hiding pieces of an ABC puzzle around the house and play “ABC Hide and Seek”
Writing skills begin when infants use the small muscles in their hands to pinch and grab. Toddler scribbling is the beginning of emergent writing which continues to develop into lines, circles, and eventually letter-like shapes. By preschool, young children are forming letters or words with adult help.
Drawing, writing, then mailing letters to family and friends.
Preschoolers can learn important literacy skills when they are playing! As the adult, you can support their literacy by modeling reading and letter recognition, creating problems to solve, and providing toys that encourage story-telling. Join us to discover how you can create fun, play-based literacy activities at home.
The most important skills a child can develop prior to kindergarten are their social and emotional skills. It is with a strong foundation in these skills that children best learn.
Reading books about feelings and how to manage those feelings!
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