The journey to being a reader and writer comes from a long progression of small steps that start from birth, according to a leading early learning provider.
Guardian Childcare and Education says the foundations of reading and writing are found in everyday interactions as opposed to formal drills and workbooks
Chief Quality and Curriculum Officer Kathryn Waugh said the real foundations of literacy sat in understanding the importance of signs and symbols all around us.
“Learning to read is learning that marks carry meaning,” she said. “It is not drilling with flash cards and rote learning.”
Ms Waugh said the journey to becoming a reader and writer began long before school. Literacy came from a long progression of small steps that started from birth.
“There are many small steps children take that give them the knowledge, skills and experience to be able to read and write successfully,” she said.
Ms Waugh said a heavy reliance on devices such as flash cards could limit a child’s ability to think, wonder and explore.
If a parent focused too heavily on memorisation of the right answer, they risked reducing literacy to a narrow task rather than a broad developmental process.
The small steps needed could be deceptively simple.
“A toddler learning which way to hold a book is engaging in early literacy,” Ms Waugh said.
“A preschooler who points out the first letter of their name on a locker or cereal box is beginning to recognise symbols in the world around them.”
Ms Waugh said over time those small, yet important, recognitions built into bigger understandings such as:
- Spotting their name on a list
- Identifying letters in new settings
- Interpreting symbols in daily life.
“The developmental pathway, however, is far from linear,” she said.
“While there are recognised milestones that support the development of strong literacy and language skills, children are individuals who ‘dance along’ this pathway in unique ways, often circling back to skills they previously acquired.”
“Becoming a reader involves experiencing joy and building confidence as children see themselves as communicators.”
She said emojis were a great example of how symbols were evolving in the literacy process.
“We didn’t encounter emojis when we began to learn to read and write as children, but most of us would use this form of text almost every day,” she said.
“It is not difficult to imagine that by the time our young children are adults there will be other forms of communication.”
She emphasised that families could nurture a love of reading by incorporating joyful reading moments into their everyday lives.
“Reading aloud daily, choosing books children adore, and delighting in rhythm, rhyme and word patterns all help tune children’s ears to language and build lifelong habits of reading for pleasure,” she said.
“Literacy grows from rich, meaningful experiences. When parents help children notice the symbols, patterns and stories woven through everyday life, they are not just teaching reading, they are nurturing curious, confident learners capable of making sense of an ever-evolving world.”
For information on Guardian Childcare’s exclusive To BE Me child learning program, click here
