Early Literacy in Toddlers

Giving your toddler access to books helps promote literacy.

It is a rare for a toddler to actually be capable of reading; however, toddlers are building early literacy skills that set the foundation for learning to read. Encouraging and helping to build these skills helps set your child up for success when he enters his school years. Children are never too young to begin the process of learning how to read, even well before they are developmentally capable of actually reading.

Reading

Even though your toddler may not be able to grasp every concept presented in a book, reading to your toddler helps teach her early literacy skills. A toddler is capable of looking at the pages of the book while you read, recognizing pictures and developing recognition of the letters and other symbols on the page. Reading also creates a bond between parent and child because you spend time together in close proximity and communicate with each other. Showing your toddler a love of reading encourages her to enjoy books as she grows.

Books for Play

Toddlers often enjoy looking at pictures in books and turning the pages by themselves. Provide your toddler with age-appropriate books that he can page through himself. He may not be able to read the words on the pages, but he will enjoy the independence of looking through it on his own. Choose books that are made of board rather than paper to avoid ripped pages. Teaching him how to turn the pages of a book and allowing him to explore the books on his own is a step toward later reading.

Discussion

Toddlers are building their vocabularies at a rapid pace, learning to communicate more effectively. Even if you do not read the books to your toddler, you can help him to recognize the elements of books and literacy through discussions. Point out the pictures in the book and talk about what the pictures show. You can also ask your toddler to find a particular object on the page, such as a dog, house or tree, and point it out. Building a toddler's vocabulary sets him up for reading in the future.

Letter Recognition

Teaching letters to your toddler sets her up to learn how to read once she enters school -- possibly before. Provide toys that show the letters -- both uppercase and lowercase -- to help your toddler learn while she plays. Some electronic toys teach the names of the letters, as well as their sounds. Even if it seems that your toddler isn't absorbing the information, she likely is. As a toddler, you can't expect her to recite the alphabet back to you or tell you what sound a letter makes; however, exposing her to these elements of reading early makes things easier later.

Repetition and Variety

Both repetition and variety are important to promoting early literacy in your toddler. Don't be afraid to read his favorite book to him over and over. Repetition reinforces the learning process and helps your toddler remember vital information. Providing him with a variety of books, though, keeps him interested in books and reading. Choose books that reflect different situations and characters from different backgrounds to further enhance your toddler's exposure to new ideas.

Make It Fun

Keeping your toddler entertained is one of the main focuses of early literacy. Young children learn through playing. If you make the stories fun for your toddler, she is more likely to pay attention and learn something. Use different voices for each of the characters in the story. Hand gestures can also make the story more fun. Instead of reading the story, you can sing the story instead or implement familiar elements, such as people she knows, her pets or familiar locations, into the story to change things up.

References

• Multnoman County Library: What is Early Literacy?
• Thomas Jefferson University; Promoting Early Literacy with Infants and Toddlers; 2006
• Montgomery County Public Libraries: Early Literacy Toddlers: Tips and Activities to Encourage Reading Readiness
• Zero to Three: Everyday Ways to Support Your Baby's and Toddler's Early Learning