Early Literacy for Parents and Caregivers
Help your child discover a love of reading.
With literacy rates sharply declining in Canadian elementary school students over the past decade, reading readiness is one of the most important gifts a parent can give their children.
Literacy refers to a child’s ability to read and write with confidence. These skills are the foundation of a successful education, and can contribute to a happy, prosperous adulthood. For example: finishing high school, which requires literacy skills, is associated with a healthier and longer life.
With these factors in mind, it’s especially important for parents to help their children discover a love of reading in addition to the essential lessons taught in school. The more support a child has, the greater chance their reading and writing skills will flourish.
Here are some ways parents can support educators in developing their child’s literacy:
- Read to your children regularly from the time they’re born.
- Continue reading to your children until adolescence.
- Help your children see reading as a fun activity—not a chore.
- Visit your local library or bookstore to help your children pick out books that excite them.
- Set an example by regularly reading in front of your children.
Picking the right books for your children is an important step in improving their literacy. We’ve created guides on how to choose a book based on genre or your child’s age.
“One great way to entangle young children in literacy is by reading aloud to them. Adults who create warm, comfortable experiences for children to hear and talk about books—fiction and non-fiction—are helping to build language patterns and vocabularies that will later underpin children’s independent reading and writing. Families who “do” literacy—whether by reading cereal boxes together or selecting library books—are providing wonderful contexts for learning. Children will be literacy sponges if the ocean around them contains rich examples of meaningful listening, speaking, reading, writing, viewing and representing.”
Dr. Beverley Brenna, Professor Emerita, University of Saskatchewan
PhD in Curriculum and Award-Winning Children’s Author
More early literacy resources
Here are some reading guides, book lists, and online communities to help you continue your child's reading journey:
