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Building the Foundation for Literacy

Babies and Toddlers

Babies’ brains are hardwired to learn language. Even before birth, they are listening! Some studies indicate that babies as young as 4 days old prefer the sound of someone speaking the same language as their birth mothers. Newborn babies also recognize the sound of their mother’s voice almost immediately after birth.

Learning about language is the first step towards learning to read. Using “parentese” when speaking to a baby is instinctive, and the best way for a baby to hear the sounds of his native language. What is “parentese”? It’s nothing more than speaking slowly and quietly, in simple sentences.

At around 18 months old, babies have what is commonly referred to as a “language explosion.”
They are learning an average of one new word every 2 hours!

During this time, there are several things adults can do to help develop a child’s emerging literacy skills.

Talk, talk, talk!
Providing a rich language environment is just what a baby needs to develop the important language pathways in the brain, which will later be used to build reading skills.

Sing Songs and Share Nursery Rhymes
Again, you are building language areas of the brain which will later be used to process word sounds.

Read With Your Baby
The research is very clear that the amount of time a child has spent sharing books and stories with caring adults is the greatest predictor of future reading success.

Follow the links below for more information and resources.

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