Helping Kids Develop Literacy Skills
In a recent study of literacy for kids, it was uncovered that children’s book and print materials have a direct impact on children’s improved reading performance. Kindergarten students showed a large increase in reading performance when provided with print materials. The reading materials cause children to read for longer periods and read more quantity of materials. It was also proven that easy access to print materials including books and magazines produces better attitudes towards learning and reading among young children.
Studies have shown that early home literacy experiences relates directly to the enhanced development of vocabulary, listening, comprehension, and language skills. In a study done by Sénéchal et al., 168 children were studied in a 5 year long study of early home literacy experiences and subsequent language and literacy skills. This study found that children's exposure to books was directly related to the development of vocabulary and listening comprehension skills, and these skills were directly related to the child's reading skills in grade 3. This study found that parents involvement in teaching their child about reading and writing were directly related to the development of early literacy skills in these children, and that these early literacy skills directly predicted word reading levels at the end of grade one, and indirectly predicted reading skills at grade 3. [1]
Enhancing the oral-language skills of children
The results of the study strongly suggest that exposure to print materials contribute independently to the growth and progress of certain verbal skills. Therefore, literacy skill development for kids can be a direct result of providing them with ample print reading materials.
Allegedly, storybook and print exposure enhances the oral-language and reading skills of children while supplementary teaching support enhances written-language skills. Findings further suggest that receptive vocabulary, phoneme awareness and listening comprehension are the direct benefits of providing children print materials at a very young age. Concepts about book reading, reading words and alphabet knowledge and spelling are developed and enhanced through parent and teacher interaction. The oral-language skills and written-language skills are the foundations of literacy for kids.
It is extremely important for parents and caregivers to provide their young children with plenty of exposure to print materials such as story books and nursery rhymes. Starting regular book reading together with your child will go along way to help them develop an understanding of the relationship between print and the spoken language, and help them develop the foundational literacy skills that will allow them to become proficient readers and writers.
Helping young children learn to read is not difficult, and can be done in as little as 5 to 10 minutes a day. Children who are able to speak clearly, as young as 2 years old can be taught to read. Don't believe me? Click the link below to watch videos of a 3 year old child reading story books.
>> Click here to discover a simple method that will teach your child to read in 12 weeks or less
1. Child Dev. 2002 Mar-Apr;73(2):445-60.
Parental involvement in the development of children's reading skill: a five-year longitudinal study.
Sénéchal M, LeFevre JA.
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