Literacy development begins long before children learn to read and write. At Hearts & Minds, we incorporate literacy-rich experiences throughout our day, embedding them in playful activities that children enjoy.
This month, our Baby Room has been exploring tactile books with different textures and sounds, developing sensory awareness that forms the foundation for later literacy skills. Our Toddler Room has been enjoying rhyming games and action songs that develop phonological awareness – the ability to hear and play with the sounds of language.
In our Preschool Room, children have created their own storybooks, dictating their tales to practitioners who scribed their words, fostering a love of storytelling and an understanding that written words carry meaning.
Parents often ask how they can support literacy at home without formal teaching. Here are some simple, play-based approaches:
- Read together daily, making it a warm, enjoyable experience
- Sing songs and recite nursery rhymes to develop awareness of sounds
- Point out environmental print such as logos and signs while out and about
- Create a cosy reading corner with a variety of books
- Model writing for real purposes, like shopping lists or birthday cards
By embedding literacy in everyday fun activities, children develop essential skills while maintaining their natural love of learning.