Early Literacy: Preconventional Readers

Children develop at their own pace both physically and intellectually, although not too far off from one another. As with stages in childhood, reading too has its own steps.

Somewhere between the ages of three and five, children begin displaying an interest in reading and books, primarily focusing on print. Preconventional readers tend to flock to stories containing the three Rs -- rhythm, rhyme and repetition. While they are not actually reading, they enjoy participating along with the story as it is being read aloud. These readers want to turn pages of books, admiring illustrations. Many at this stage recognize their name, know the names of letters, and have an interest in traffic signs, logos and the like.

Such readers are at the very beginning of this exciting literary journey, known as early literacy, so what can parents do to encourage their child's development?

Relationship Between Reading and Brain Development

Anecdotal evidence suggests that at birth, a child's brain is developed by only 25%. Perhaps a sobering fact, the remaining 75% is - gulp - up to you through the stimulation of all five senses. 

According to Mem Fox, in her book Reading Magic: Why Reading Aloud to Our Children Will Change Their Lives Forever, by the child's first birthday, the foundation will already have been set with regard to his or her cleverness, imagination and creative being. Fox suggests that it may be too late for a child to begin reading if he or she has not begun to do so prior to entering school. Reading difficulties are not easy to fix, so, parents, prevention is key; wise Ben Franklin once said, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure." This infamous quote can be applied to a great deal of topics today, including literacy, no less.

A child's intellectual development has been linked to close verbal communication by the age of three. Speech begins with being spoken to, and reading aloud is the perfect time for the special bond between parent and child, and intellectual, reading, and speech development. By the time a child hears speech, music, and repetition, the foundation of early literacy has begun. Without any verbal communication, or lack thereof, children will have a more difficult time wanting to learn to read.

So, read, read, read, and play the important role of giving the gift of all-things related to brain development.

Words Are All Around Us

Traffic signs, banners, advertisements...words are all around us.

As adults, we take reading for granted. We tend to forget that without our knowledge, we would not be able to read anything. It was not until I had my daughter - and started reading and pointing out words from all over town - that I realized this simple fact, and I thought, “What a perfect opportunity to teach outside of the box!"

I am happy to announce that it worked - for one day, out of the blue, my little girl said to me, “Mommy, that sign says ‘stop!'" My eyes grew big and my mouth dropped. “She really did pay attention to me!"

To this day, I seize every opportunity to read to my children, not limiting myself to books. By doing so, they acknowledge that those “letters" are actually words...words that are all around them.