Early Literacy Program
To help you participate in the Summer Reading Program with your pre-readers,
we encourage incorporating activities that support Early Literacy.
What is "Early Literacy" ????
Simply defined Early Literacy is what children know about reading and writing before they can read or write. Research has shown that there are six skills that young children need to be ready to learn to read.
The Six Skills of Early Literacy are:
And remember, staff in the Children’s departments are ready to help you, whether it’s assisting in the selection of material for your child or answering any questions about Early Literacy!
HAVE FUN READING THIS SUMMER
What is "Early Literacy" ????
Simply defined Early Literacy is what children know about reading and writing before they can read or write. Research has shown that there are six skills that young children need to be ready to learn to read.
The Six Skills of Early Literacy are:
Print Motivation – a child’s joy and interest in books and reading
Vocabulary – knowing the names of things
Phonological Awareness – a child’s ability to hear and play with the smaller sounds in words
Narrative Skills – the ability to describe things and events to tell stories.
Print Awareness – noticing print, knowing how to handle a book, and following the written word on a page.
Letter Knowledge – learning the name of letters and recognizing them everywhere.
Listed below are some Early Literacy activities, divided by age and skill, you can try at home or during your
next library visit. When you are at the library, pick up a "Your Curious Kid and You" flyer for more ideas.
Be sure to check our “Parent Tip” display in the Early Literacy area of the library.Vocabulary – knowing the names of things
Phonological Awareness – a child’s ability to hear and play with the smaller sounds in words
Narrative Skills – the ability to describe things and events to tell stories.
Print Awareness – noticing print, knowing how to handle a book, and following the written word on a page.
Letter Knowledge – learning the name of letters and recognizing them everywhere.
And remember, staff in the Children’s departments are ready to help you, whether it’s assisting in the selection of material for your child or answering any questions about Early Literacy!
HAVE FUN READING THIS SUMMER
Early Talkers
(Newborn – 23 Month)
(Newborn – 23 Month)
Talkers
(2-3 years old)
(2-3 years old)
Pre-Readers
(4-5 years old)
(4-5 years old)
Print Motivation
Share a book everyday with your child, even if it’s for only a few minutes
Cuddle with your child while you read
Cuddle with your child while you read
Find books that speak to the child’s interests and share them often
Introduce a book by calling it one of your favorites and say how much you enjoy it
Have a setting where you and your child share time and cuddle looking and talking about books
Introduce a book by calling it one of your favorites and say how much you enjoy it
Have a setting where you and your child share time and cuddle looking and talking about books
Read a book to your child that he or she has chosen
Make a snack together following a recipe in a book
Make a snack together following a recipe in a book
Vocabulary
Sing songs that give names of things
Play the game “Where’s the---- pillow,” and have the child point to the object
Point to pictures and have your child tell you what they are
Play the game “Where’s the---- pillow,” and have the child point to the object
Point to pictures and have your child tell you what they are
Add detail when your child talks to you. If your child says there’s a cat, you say,
"Yes, a big, black cat."
Share the real items of pictures shown in a book
Talk about feelings in a story
Share the real items of pictures shown in a book
Talk about feelings in a story
Get your child to talk about the pictures and words on each page
Read non-fiction books that your child likes and talk about any unfamiliar words
Look at a picture book dictionary together
Read non-fiction books that your child likes and talk about any unfamiliar words
Look at a picture book dictionary together
Narrative Skills
Talk with your child about what you are doing
Play with puppets
Read favorite books again and again
Play with puppets
Read favorite books again and again
Ask open ended questions about the story that start with “What” – and wait 5 seconds for an answer
Retell stories on a flannel board, with puppets, or while coloring a picture
Ask your child to tell a story back to you
Retell stories on a flannel board, with puppets, or while coloring a picture
Ask your child to tell a story back to you
After you have read a story together, have your child retell the story to you
Have your child act out a story using puppets or props
Have your child dictate something to you about a story. After you have written it, read it back to him or her
Have your child act out a story using puppets or props
Have your child dictate something to you about a story. After you have written it, read it back to him or her
Phonological Awareness
Read rhyming books and nursery rhymes to your child
Sing songs – singing songs helps children hear different syllables in words
Show them pictures of animals and have them make the sound of the animal
Sing songs – singing songs helps children hear different syllables in words
Show them pictures of animals and have them make the sound of the animal
Point out the rhyming sounds in songs and books
Read nursery rhymes
Practice animal sounds and silly sounds
Read nursery rhymes
Practice animal sounds and silly sounds
Sing rhyming songs
Choose words from the book you are reading and come up with words (or nonsense words) that rhyme
Clap out the syllables in words from the book you are reading
Choose a letter or sound and notice everything that starts with that sound
Choose words from the book you are reading and come up with words (or nonsense words) that rhyme
Clap out the syllables in words from the book you are reading
Choose a letter or sound and notice everything that starts with that sound
Print Awareness
Give your child board books and let them turn the pages and just play with the book
Read a book that not only shows a picture, but also has the word of the item on the page
Read a book that not only shows a picture, but also has the word of the item on the page
Show how print has meaning by pointing to the words as you read them
Pick up a book and hold it backwards, upside down, and sideways and ask if this is right
Encourage scribbling, it’s the beginning of print awareness
Let your child hold the book and turn the pages
Pick up a book and hold it backwards, upside down, and sideways and ask if this is right
Encourage scribbling, it’s the beginning of print awareness
Let your child hold the book and turn the pages
Read signs and simple labels on familiar objects and places
Point to the words of the title and author as you say them
Let your child dictate a story to you. After you have written it, read it back to him or her.
Point to the words of the title and author as you say them
Let your child dictate a story to you. After you have written it, read it back to him or her.
Letter Knowledge
Sing the ABC song and point to the letters
Read alphabet books
Point to letters in books, on signs, cereal boxes, etc.
Read alphabet books
Point to letters in books, on signs, cereal boxes, etc.
Use ABC books and songs
Have large ABC’s the children can touch and play with or make letters with play dough or cookie dough
Eat alphabet soup, find the letters in your child’s name
Have large ABC’s the children can touch and play with or make letters with play dough or cookie dough
Eat alphabet soup, find the letters in your child’s name
Draw letters in different media -- sand, pudding, or playdoh, as well as
with pencils and crayons
Play "I Spy" with letters, looking for letters in books and other items with writing on them (I Spy with my little eye, the letter A/a…)
Help your child learn how to write his or her name
Play "I Spy" with letters, looking for letters in books and other items with writing on them (I Spy with my little eye, the letter A/a…)
Help your child learn how to write his or her name
95th Street Library
630.961.4100
ext.4961(Children’s)
ext.4941(Teens/Adults)
630.961.4100
ext.4961(Children’s)
ext.4941(Teens/Adults)
Nichols Library
630.961.4100
ext.6128(Children’s)
ext.6311(Teens/Adults)
630.961.4100
ext.6128(Children’s)
ext.6311(Teens/Adults)
Naper Blvd. Library
630.961.4100
ext.2208(Children’s)
ext.2201(Teens/Adults)
630.961.4100
ext.2208(Children’s)
ext.2201(Teens/Adults)
