Experiences in these early years begin to give children the motivation to work toward learning to read and write. This is how children learn that reading and writing are valuable tools that will help them do many things in life. It is vital for all children to have literacy experiences in early childhood programs. Such access is even more critical for children with limited home experiences in language and literacy. Long before they speak, children respond to words in large and small ways using facial expressions and gestures.
Every minute spent with a child is a chance to demonstrate how to use words.
Encouraging children to respond when spoken to helps develop their vocabulary and desire to communicate. Holding a child s hand or bending down to eye level creates a bond that facilitates communication and helps children feel secure in their learning environments. READ Everything in a child s life needs a name. Everyday activities provide opportunities to name people, places and things as well as describe feelings, textures, colors, shapes and symbols. Reading with very young children reinforces the connections between sounds, written words and everyday life experiences.