How Can Parents Support Early Literacy Instruction At Home?

Parents play a crucial role in supporting early literacy instruction at home. Their support in early literacy instruction at home is important because it positively influences their child's performance in school and motivates them to keep learning.

Here are several ways parents can contribute to their child's literacy development:

1. Read Aloud Together:

Establish a routine of reading aloud to your child by choosing a variety of books, storybooks, and informational texts that you can read together. This helps build your child's vocabulary and helps them view reading as a fun activity with you.

2. Create a Print-Rich Environment:

Surround your child with written language. Make it practical by labeling common household items, creating a print-rich bedroom or play area, and exposing your child to different types of reading materials. Creating a print-rich environment builds their understanding of written words in a fun and engaging way.

3. Ask Questions:

Engage your child in conversations about the books you read together. Ask questions about the characters, setting, and plot. Encourage them to predict what might happen next or share their favorite part of the story.

4. Visit the Library:

Regular visits to the library can be a fun activity that also exposes your child to a wide range of books. Allow them to choose books based on their interests, and consider participating in library programs or storytime events.

5. Write Together:

Provide opportunities for your child to write alongside you, this can include drawing and labeling pictures, creating short stories, or even writing letters and notes. Doing this helps them build confidence and allows them to observe firsthand, and emulate writing skills and techniques from you.

6. Practice Phonics Skills:

Phonics skills are the building block of reading, reinforcing phonics skills at home helps your child build a foundation for reading and learning success. Practice letter recognition, phonemic awareness activities, and decoding simple words by pointing out letters and their sounds in everyday situations to help develop phonic skills at home.

7. Model Reading Behavior:

Demonstrate your love for reading by modeling reading behavior at home. Children are more likely to see reading as a positive and enjoyable activity if they witness their parents engaging in it.

8. Make Connections to Real Life:

Connect literacy to real-life experiences. For example, involve your child in writing grocery lists, reading recipes, or following written instructions for a simple task. Using real-life connections with your child can spark their interest, helping them grasp new concepts more easily.

9. Engage in Shared Reading:

Shared reading involves taking turns reading with your child. This can be particularly effective for early readers, as they gain confidence and benefit from your guidance.

Fostering literacy is a gradual process, and each child develops at their own pace. By creating a supportive and language-rich environment at home, you can significantly contribute to your child's early literacy skills and overall academic success.

To learn more about early literacy programs, check out our blog page: https://www.lernerknowsliteracy.com/blog

Custom take-home packs are available. To learn more, contact a literacy specialist today.