Early Literacy Tips for Parents: How to Prepare Your Child for Reading Success

The earliest years of learning at Liberty Academy highly emphasize literacy development.  Our curriculum is language-rich, beginning in Kindergarten, in order to drive strong literacy skills, increase vocabulary, improve reading fluency and comprehension, and gain content knowledge effectively.  There is a lot parents can do to support early literacy even before Kindergarten.  

Science shows that 90% of physical brain development happens by age 5.  That means a whole lot of brain development occurs before children are in school.  Their brains are soaking in information and making connections like crazy in the first five years.  This can be both exciting and overwhelming to parents.  But don’t worry.  This intense period of brain development can be supported in simple and natural ways.  

First and foremost, young children do well when they have responsive caretakers who talk, read, and sing to them, notice their interests, and reinforce their natural human development.  At the earliest ages, starting from newborn, parents can make a habit of talking to their baby.  The more words the baby hears the better.  It helps to point at what you are talking about, describe what you are doing, and to show emotion in your tone, facial expressions, and body language.  You can also play music or audiobooks to maintain a language-rich environment in those earliest years.   

As your baby gets to be a toddler, you will notice they naturally explore the world around them.  No need for fancy toys, kids will learn from every day exploration around the house.  The best thing you can do is ensure their living space is safe for them to do their own exploring.  When they are ready to play make-believe games - like having a tea party, participating with them encourages it and amplifies the experience.  Kids will start copying the words you say even words they’ve never heard before.  They will start wanting books read over and over, maybe even “read” the books themselves.  Learning colors, numbers, and letters takes repetition, but they love it!  It helps to reward them with smiles and praise when they show they are making progress.  

Another tip for early literacy development is to limit screen time.  While some time watching educational programs can be beneficial for young children, too much screen time will program their brains to be passive.  Choose options that are slower-paced, use good vocabulary, and teach moral lessons.  Books, hands-on activities, and outdoor exploration are better options to support brain development in young children.  

Providing a language-rich environment with responsive caretakers, will be the best preparation for Kindergarten.  While knowing their colors, numbers, and ABC’s can be beneficial, they will be ready to soak up those things when they arrive.  Many Kindergarten teachers note that gaps among student knowledge in September is typically bridged by the end of the school year.  Every student grows significantly in Kindergarten, especially with the strong phonics instruction included in the curriculum at Liberty Academy.  When parents and teachers work together for the success of the children, they grow in leaps and bounds.