How to Encourage Early Literacy Skills in Kindergarten Toddlers?

Literacy is the ability to engage with and form a relationship with language in order to understand ideas and thoughts and express them well. Literacy is the most essential primary step towards building a child's foundation in order to become a confident individual who can succeed academically, socially, and in his or her career.

Children pick up and learn the language from the environment they grow up in without understanding the meanings and applications of the words until they are guided by an adult. But mere picking up of the language and the ability to speak and understand the basic phrases is not enough until the children are taught to form a relationship with the language and a connectivity between their thoughts and the language of expression. Kenalily School, formerly named Euroschool Ahmedabad, advises young parents to introduce their toddlers to language and encourage them to engage with it from an early age in order to make learning easier for them.

Encouraging literacy skills in toddlers

1.     Develop a bond: All parents love their children and strive to provide the best possible life for them, beginning with developing a bond with them beyond the obvious natural love. Engaging in activities together like talking, singing, humming, and mimicking will not just create special moments with your children but also introduce them to language, rhythm, sound, and the pronunciation of the words. Repeat the words, sing nursery rhymes, read stories to them, and converse with them consistently while you go about doing chores around the house. Do the same when outdoors too: point to objects and spell out their names; create and play games like ‘I spy"; count the steps or birds; make sounds of the wind or the rustling of the leaves; or of dogs barking. Make the time together fun and educational.

2.     Introduce them to books: Since a literal introduction to language is as important as a verbal one, introduce them to books by sitting together and reading out loud from the children’s books while pointing out the colourful characters and repeating their names and the activities they are doing in the story. Make them a part of this exercise by encouraging them to turn the pages and point to their favourite character or colours. Let them become familiar with the book and befriend it. Do not worry if they end up tearing or damaging the book initially; explain to them gently that books are our friends and hurting them is not nice. Ask them which story or book they would like to read or see. Try and relate the stories to real life by pointing out the trees, flowers, swings, and birds, just like they saw and heard in the storybook.

3.     Pencil and paper: Drawing and writing require the use of basic motor skills like holding the pencil or crayon and steadying the hand to scribble or draw on the paper, and this activity also introduces them to the written word and their own ability to write or draw. Drawing and scribbling are immensely joyful activities for toddlers, as the sight of their handiwork on the sheet of paper fills them with wonder and glee. Teach them how to hold a pencil or crayon and colour on the paper. Children are curious and great mimics, so when they see adults and their teachers at Kenalily School, (formerly named Euroschool Ahmedabad) write or paint, they try to mimic them by often scribbling on any available surface. Spending quality time with them to draw and scribble will not only give direction to their curiosity but also add to their connection with language and words.

4.     Forming words and sentences: Teach them the alphabet and encourage them to spell out the words they are speaking by repeating after you. There are many alphabet practice books available, through which you can teach your child to write the alphabet. Familiarise them with the letters with the help of alphabet blocks. Ignite the curiosity in them to spell the spoken words and then write them down while repeatedly pronouncing the words. Do activities like making a greeting card or a drawing of the family or their pet or toy.

Being literate means knowing how to read, write, and articulate well in order to study well in school and become educated, form social bonds, learn creative thinking and problem-solving skills, and become self-reliant and independent to form their own views and opinions, which will teach them to be sensible, observant, and judicious in assessing a situation and their surroundings, which is important for their own safety and growth. You can also request the teachers at here to suggest more ways that can help you encourage your child to develop literacy skills.