Literacy and Early Childhood Education

It goes without saying that literacy, the ability to read and right, is crucial to being successful in today’s world. People need to be able to communicate effectively to achieve their personal, educational, and vocational goals. Would it not follow, then, that the earlier children begin building literacy skills the more success they will have in the future?

Studies show that early literacy does in fact play a large role in the future success of our children. “Not only does reading in the early years support kindergarten readiness, but early literacy builds a foundation for future academic success and overall achievement” (hertzfurniture.com). It begins by simply reading to kids from the time they are infants. Allowing them to hold and play with books. Teaching them through example and experience that reading and writing are fun.

Zerotothree.org states that: “Early language and literacy (reading and writing) development begins in the first 3 years of life and is closely linked to a child’s earliest experiences with books and stories.” Think about that: A child’s early literacy development is connected to what experiences they have with books before they are even old enough to crawl. How, then, can we give infants and toddlers more positive reading experiences?

At Building Kidz, we pride ourselves in having a set curriculum for ALL of our students, including our infants. Our teachers for each and every age group provide their students with meaningful reading experiences on a daily basis. True, infants can’t speak or read, but they CAN see and hear.

Our teachers read to them, show them books and pictures. They tell these blossoming little ones what it is they are seeing. It is common in our centers to see infants, toddlers, and preschoolers smile brightly as a teacher hands them a book. Our children, and our teachers, know of the joy and importance that comes from reading and storytelling. And isn’t that something we want all of our children to understand?