Communication and early literacy development starts in the very first year of life, through interactions with parents and care givers, and even with older siblings! Your kids’ early communication and literacy skills are important because they help you to connect with each other, they set the foundation for learning language, and they are the first step for learning to read.
Creating an environment in your home that encourages communication, literacy, and learning can be achieved through simple everyday actions and activities.
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What to Have in Your Home
- Books! These can be books you own, or borrowed from the library or from friends.
- Alphabet books
- Books about colors
- Books about animals
- Rhyming books
- Books with pictures of everyday objects
- Any and all picture storybooks
- Paper and crayons, pencils, or markers that are available for drawing and coloring.
- An area your kids can sit and read or draw at any time
Activities to Do Together
- Read a book together every day.
- Talk – a lot! Talk about what you’re doing, describe what you see and how you feel, ask questions and pause for their answers.
- Even when your kids aren’t ready to talk back, it’s important for them to hear your voice and your words to learn that language has meaning.
- Add going to the library together into your family activities.
Things to Do on Your Own
- Read! When your kids see you reading a book, a magazine, the newspaper, or any other materials, reading becomes a natural part of their everyday life and environment.
- You are your kids’ first teacher. They learn by your example!