The journey to becoming a confident reader begins long before a child actually starts reading. Literacy and reading readiness are foundational skills that set the stage for academic success and lifelong learning and reading skill ability in early elementary years is a known predictor for success later in life. 

The process of learning to read is a complex task and the reality is that reading is not a natural skill humans are born with. Children will not automatically learn to read by being exposed to books, but they must be taught HOW to read. We often think of relying on the schools to do this, but there are many foundational literacy skills that parents can work on at home far before a child enters school!

What is Literacy and Reading Readiness?

Literacy refers to the ability to read and write, but it encompasses much more than just decoding words on a page. It involves comprehension, critical thinking, and the ability to communicate effectively through written language. 

Reading readiness, on the other hand, refers to the pre-reading skills that children develop before they can read independently. These skills are essential for building a strong foundation for literacy.

Key components of reading readiness include:

• Phonemic Awareness: The ability to hear, identify, and manipulate individual sounds (phonemes) in spoken words.some text
  • For example: What is the first sound you hear in the word BELL? Answer: /b/. Children should be able to isolate sounds and not state the letter the sound is coming from!
• Alphabet Knowledge: Recognizing letter names and sounds.some text
  • For example: A child being able to name a letter by looking at it by itself. The alphabet song is a great place to start, but many children can sing the alphabet song and not be able to identify a letter on its own! Talk about the names of letters AND the sounds they make EVERY DAY, a child is never too young to start incorporating the alphabet into their play routines!
• Vocabulary Development and Background Knowledge: Understanding and using a wide range of words and understanding concepts that aren’t a part of daily life. some text
  • For example: A child won’t come across MOST words every day. Take the word “asteroid”, it is not a common word we use daily! The main places your child will hear this word is during a lesson at school or in a book you read together. Building background knowledge expands vocabulary. The larger a child’s vocabulary is, the easier it will be for them to read words they have heard before when they come up in a text later!
• Print Awareness: Understanding that print carries meaning, how to handle books, and recognizing basic print conventions.some text
  • For example: Have your child hold the books correctly oriented, talk about the titles/authors/illustrators. Can your child point to a word on a page? Can they find the last page of a book? These print awareness skills are all critical readiness skills for building proficient readers!

The Importance of Early Literacy

Early literacy skills are crucial because they form the basis for later reading and writing success. Research shows that children who enter school with strong pre-reading skills are more likely to become proficient readers. Early literacy development impacts a child's ability to understand complex texts, perform well academically, and engage in critical thinking. Additionally, a strong foundation in literacy enhances a child's confidence and motivation to learn.

How Speech Therapy Can Support Literacy and Reading Readiness

The term “speech therapy” is often misleading, many people do not know that speech therapy can also help with reading skills for struggling readers and those with more significant disorders including dyslexia. Speech Language Pathologists can play a significant role in supporting literacy and reading readiness. Here’s how:

1. Evaluation of Literacy Skills: An SLP can conduct an evaluation that identifies what level your child is performing at with their literacy skills. The results of the evaluation combined with parent report and the SLP’s recommendations, goals can be formed to address the areas an individual is struggling with to create a custom intervention plan to target their skills. 

1. Phonemic and Phonological Awareness Development: Speech-language pathologists (SLPs) use targeted activities to help children develop phonemic and phonological awareness. This includes games and exercises that focus on rhyming, segmenting sounds, and blending sounds to form words.
2. Alphabet Knowledge and Phonics: SLPs help children recognize letter names and sounds through engaging and interactive activities. They also teach phonics, which involves understanding the relationship between sounds and their corresponding letters or groups of letters.
3. Vocabulary Expansion: Building a rich vocabulary is essential for reading comprehension. Speech therapy sessions often include activities that introduce new words, teach their meanings, and practice using them in context.
4. Individualized Support: Each child’s literacy journey is unique. SLPs provide individualized assessments and tailor their interventions to meet the specific needs of each child, ensuring targeted support where it’s needed most.

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How Parents Can Support Literacy and Reading Readiness

Parents play a vital role in fostering early literacy skills and reading readiness. Here are some practical ways to support your child’s journey:

• Read Aloud Daily: Reading aloud to your child is one of the most effective ways to develop early literacy skills. Choose a variety of books and discuss the stories, characters, and events to enhance comprehension and vocabulary.
• Create a Literacy-Rich Environment: Surround your child with books, magazines, and other print materials. Designate a cozy reading nook and make reading a regular part of your daily routine.
• Play with Language: Engage in word games, rhyming activities, and songs that emphasize phonemic awareness. Encourage your child to play with sounds, letters, and words.
• Model Reading and Writing: Let your child see you reading and writing regularly. This sets a positive example and shows that literacy is a valuable and enjoyable activity.
• Encourage Storytelling: Encourage your child to tell stories, both orally and through drawings. This helps develop narrative skills and creativity, which are important for writing.
• Be Patient and Positive: Celebrate your child’s progress and be patient with their learning process. Offer positive reinforcement and make learning to read a fun and rewarding experience.

For more in-depth information on reading development, the Reading Rockets initiative published this guide for parents. Follow this link to learn more about literacy development: https://www.readingrockets.org/literacy-home/reading-101-guide-parents

If you have concerns about your child’s reading abilities a Hona Speech Language Pathologist can help improve your child’s reading skills. Book a free consultation today to discuss your concerns with one of our literacy experts!