A great way to develop early literacy is to write with your child every day, even before they learn how to write words! Take a look at these tips below to see how you can practice writing at home.
Babies (0-18 months)
- Practice finger plays with your baby. Finger motions will help them learn a sense of themselves in space, which will help later when they are learning to write.
- Writing doesn’t just mean letters. At around 15-18 months, your baby will begin learning how to scribble. Encourage this! Learning to scribble and draw are the first steps to writing letters.
Toddlers (18-36 months)
- Before kids learn actual letters, they have an awareness of shapes. They can move their arms and bodies before they can write. See if your toddler can make a circle shape with their whole body. Now try making an X!
- Children are very interested in themselves. Learning how to write their names is a great way to introduce your child to the alphabet in a meaningful way.
- As we do motions to songs like “Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes”, children are learning a sense of themselves in space. It will help them when they are learning to write.
Preschoolers (3-5 year-olds)
- Let your child help write lists for the grocery store, draw pictures of things they want to do, or make a card for a relative or friend.
- Show your preschooler how everyone in your family writes their names. Talk about who has the most letters or which letters are the same.
- Practice writing when you are playing. For example, if you are playing restaurant, help your child write a menu.
-Kelly, Children's Librarian, Joel D. Valdez Main Library
Read, Write, Talk, Sing, Play!
When children are given a chance to explore scribbling, draw pictures, and tell stories, they are learning reading skills. Being an active participant in writing helps keep children excited about reading stories.
Read more about early literacy and how you can make a difference in your child's life.
