What is Literacy?

Literacy can be broken down into three main areas – listening & talking, reading and writing.  Through play, exploration, environment and positive relationships, young children can build on their emergent literacy skills.  This is a readiness, curiosity and understanding before they actually go on to be able to read and write independently.

• Listening & Talking

This area within literacy has one of the strongest impacts on children and is the precursor for reading and writing skills.  It is important to spend time taking turns to talk and listen with children, engaging them in eye contact and be down at their level.

• Reading

Studies have shown that children who are read to in the early stages of their life, go on to achieve greater levels of reading in later life.  Introducing rhyme to children will help to support them with reading and spelling skills as they move onto school.

• Writing

Writing skills start with the development of large and fine motor skills.  Children have to be able to co-ordinate their movements and have control over their large and fine motor skills before they can go on to draw and write.