Why it matters
- Early literacy skills help children learn to read and succeed in school
- Children learn best through talking, reading, and playing with adults
What you can do
- Talk with your child throughout the day
- Read together and discuss the story
- Teach and repeat new words
- Play games with sounds, rhymes, and letters
- Encourage drawing and early writing
Everyday learning ideas
- Describe what your child is doing during play
- Ask questions like “What happens next?”
- Use daily routines (e.g., meals, errands) to build vocabulary
- Add simple reading/writing items to play (e.g., menus, lists, signs)
What to watch for
- Limited conversation or shared reading time
- Too much passive screen time
- Only focusing on memorizing letters (instead of sounds and meaning)
Supporting your child
- Repeat and model language often
- Use visuals and gestures when helpful
- Break activities into small steps
- Keep learning fun and play-based
The takeaway
Simple, everyday interactions (i.e., talking, reading, and playing) build strong literacy skills. Over time, these small moments add up, helping your child grow into a confident and capable reader.
The information provided in this summary is based on findings from Integration of Emergent Literacy Instruction Across Classroom Activities: A Systematic Review.
