Read
When children are very young, reading aloud to them is a great literacy activity. This helps them understand the rhythm of narrative storytelling and develops a good sense of what a story should be like.
Reading out loud also helps children familiarize themselves with the alphabet and the relationship between letters and sounds. As your child grows, you can have them read to you one line at a time or even entire pages.
Encourage Writing
Writing is a vital part of literacy development. Children need to write to communicate and express themselves, and to record important information and ideas.
Have your child write letters to family members, draw pictures or make lists. Make sure pencils and crayons are always available. Encourage them to write and talk about what they’re reading, especially if they find it interesting or relatable.
Read Routinely
Parents can help children build their literacy skills by making reading part of everyday life. This can be as simple as reading traffic signs, cereal boxes or songs together and talking about them.
Children who are read to regularly tend to have larger vocabularies and better reading skills than those who are not. They are also exposed to words and concepts that are not in their regular vocabulary, which can prepare them for learning new languages and topics later in life.