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What is Early Literacy?

Early literacy is everything children know about reading and writing before they can actually read and write. This starts long before they enter school – whether it's a toddler who wants his favorite book read over and over, or a preschooler who "reads" the story to you from memory.



Early literacy skills begin to develop in the first five years of life. Your child's early experiences with books and language lay the foundation for success in learning to read. Don't worry about teaching your young child to read-- that can wait for school. The most important thing you can do to get your child ready to read is to have fun with words and reading.



The library has lots of resources to help you. Reading and talking with your child helps your child become a better reader later. Children who play with words and language are better prepared to learn to read. Make sure your child sees you reading, too!

 

What has your child learned today? You can help your child succeed: Read together. Talk together. PLAY!
 
CLICK HERE FOR INFORMATION ABOUT STORYTIMES AT THE PUYALLUP PUBLIC LIBRARY
 
 
 
  • Five Ways To Help Your Child Get Ready To Read

    From the time they are infants, children learn language and other important skills that will help them learn to read. Whether your child is four days old or four years old, it is not too early or too late to help him or her develop important literacy and pre-reading skills. Doing this now will make it easier for your child to learn to read when he or she starts school.

    The five best ways to help your child get ready to read are:

    Talking...Singing...Reading...Writing...Playing

    ... and they are easy to make part of your everyday routine. You don't need to push your child, just have fun with these activities so your child wants to do them again and again!

    Talking:

    Talk with your child, so he or she hears a variety of words. "The giant wasn't just big.  He was enormous!"

    Singing:

    • Songs often include words that are new to a child.
    • Songs help children develop listening skills and pay attention to the rhythms and rhymes of spoken language.
    • Most songs have a different note for each syllable. This helps children break down words so they hear individual sounds in a word. This is an important pre-reading skill.
    • Singing also slows down language so children can hear different parts of words and notice how they are alike and different.
    • Clapping along to rhythms helps children hear the syllables in words, and it helps them practice motor skills.
    • Singing helps children remember things for a longer time.

    Reading:

    What do you think is the single most important activity that you can do to help your child get ready to read?  Phonics drills?  Memorizing letters?  No matter what your child’s age, reading together with your child—or shared reading—is actually the most important thing you can do. 

    Shared reading is valuable because your child has your full attention, and you are enjoying the experience together.

    Shared reading develops a love of reading and an appreciation of books. Children who enjoy being read to are more likely to want to learn to read themselves.

    Did you know that a child’s interest in reading is a good way to predict how well they will do later in reading?

    Writing:

    Try to write your name with your non-dominant hand. How does it feel? Imagine you were a child, trying to write for the first time.  Children need time and lots of  practice to develop the physical ability to write.

    Reading and writing go together. Children notice that printed letters stand for spoken words as they see print all around them. Make sure your child sees you reading the newspaper. Point out letters on stop signs when driving, and cereal boxes while shopping. Spell out what you are writing when you make a list or make notes on your calendar.

    Children start to write by scribbling- they have associated marks on paper with words in a book, and want to "write".  One of the first words children write is their name. As children learn letter names and improve their motor skills, they begin to form the letters of their names. As children scribble and draw, they practice eye-hand coordination and exercise the muscles in their fingers and hands. This helps develop the fine motor control they need to write letters and words.

    Playing:

    Play is one of the best ways for children to learn language.  

    Play helps children think symbolically: a box becomes a house, a blanket becomes a magic cape, a mud puddle becomes an ocean to sail across.

    Through play, children realize that one thing can stand for another. This also helps children understand that written words stand for real objects and experiences.

  • Resources for Parents

    Click to:

    Learn more about Early Literacy from the Center for Early Literacy Learning.

    Find more information at Multnomah County Library.

    Learn more about choosing books for babies and toddlers at Zero to Three.

    Explore Early Literacy at Hennepin County Library.

     

  • Fingerplays

    Fingerplays, such as "Eensy Weensy Spider," use hand movements with rhymes. This involves children more directly; fingerplays and songs can be used to:

    - improve a child's motor skills and coordination
    - help children to observe and follow along
    - teach concepts (body parts, counting, up/down)
    - make sounds (phonological awareness)
    - have fun!

    Rhymes and songs are important. Babies enjoy rhythm. When they were in the womb, they felt the rhythm of the heart. Rhythm also helps children hear the individual sounds of the words.

    Bounce/lift rhyme To Market, To Market

    Bounce baby gently on knees. You can bounce your baby in many ways—sitting on your lap, with his tummy on your knees, laying on his back on your knees, sitting on your lap and rocking side to side... On last line of each verse, lift baby up.

    To market, to market, to buy a fat pig,
    Home again, home again, jiggety jig.
    To market, to market, to buy a fat hog,
    Home again, home again, jiggety jog.


    Finger/hand Rhyme: Big A

    Big A Open baby's arms wide
    Little A Bring baby's hands together
    Bouncing B. Bounce baby on knee
    The cat's in the cupboard,
    And he can't see!
    Peek-a-boo! Cover baby's eyes
    I see you! Take hands away.

    Bounce/lift/touch rhyne:  Mix a Pancake

    Mix a pancake, rub baby’s back in circular motion
    Stir a pancake, pat baby’s back in rhythm
    Pop it in the pan. Hold baby flat, supporting head
    Fry a pancake,Toss a pancake, lift high
    Catch it if you can. Hold baby close

    Tickle/touch rhyme: Bumblebee

    Bumblebee was in the barn (Circle your finger in the air)
    Carrying bagpipes under his arm, (Move finger closer to Baby.)
    And he went like this! BUZZZZZ! (Tickle or blow on Baby’s tummy)

    Action Rhyne: Wiggerly Woo

    Wiggerly woo, wiggerly woo
    Let's all do the wiggerly woo
    Wiggerly woo, wiggerly woo
    Woo! Woo! Wiggerly woo!
    Swing your arms around and round
    Tap your two feet on the ground
    Clap your hands in front of you--
    That's how you do the wiggerly woo.
    Repeat.

    Body parts touch rhyme: Cheek Chin
    Touch each part as indicated, lift baby on UP.

    Cheek, chin, cheek, chin, cheek chin, NOSE
    Cheek, chin, cheek, chin, cheek chin, TOES
    Cheek, chin, cheek, chin, UP baby goes!


  • TumbleBook Library

    A fun and interactive library of animated, talking story books for preschoolers, beginner readers and older independent readers. TumbleBooks are created by taking existing story books, adding animation, sound, music and narration to produce an electronic (e-book) story book. Children can chose to read on their own or have the stories read aloud to them. Some books feature "Word Help" to assist children in sounding out woTumbleBook Libraryrds. There are also book-related puzzles and games to play. Stories are available in English, Spanish, and French. (Flash Plug-In required.)

    Click here to enter TumbleBook Library!

    What will you find inside the Tumblebook Library?
    Story books - More than 100 animated story books from “The Paper Bag Princess” and “Diary of a Worm” to “Miss Malarkey Doesn’t Live in Room 10” and “One Duck Stuck” and so much more!
    Life Learning - TumbleBooks can complement themes taught in the home or classroom. There are books covering holidays, celebrations and cultures. Several books are “issue related” books covering topics from volunteering and aging to grandparents and asthma.
    Not just for kids - Older students can read from a growing collection of classics like Black Beauty, Alice in Wonderland and Anne of Green Gables. TumbleBooks also includes a collection of full length, unabridged, audio books.
    Multi-lingual - The website also has a language drop down menu to view the website in Spanish or French. This is great for English as a Second Language or for French and Spanish language students. Some books also come in a bi-lingual format.
    Puzzles & games – Jigsaw puzzles, word fun, memory games, comprehension quizzes, and more to play after reading a book!