Early Literacy Outreach Project
Providing parents and caregivers with free literacy resources for children under 5 in their local communities.
Talk, sing, read, play and write!
Think of early literacy as the things that children do before they read and write, like looking at a picture book, scribbling on paper, singing a nursery rhyme, talking to a toy or playing dress-up.
Talk!
Your child loves to hear your voice, so chat and tell them what you are doing!
Chances are you are doing it already! Babies and children love to hear you talk and their brains are wired to pick up your voice and start to learn language. Don't worry about a topic - talking about anything is perfect. Let your child know what you are making for breakfast, describe how you fold laundry (or don't!) and read out the grocery list to them in the supermarket. The more you talk the bigger their vocabulary will become and you will see their language flourish.
Sing!
Your child loves your singing voice - trust us.
You may not think you are a good singer, but you sound like Adele or Josh Grobin to your baby! (Disclaimer: they might not think this about your voice when they become a teenager, so enjoy the chance to belt out some songs now.) Nursery rhymes, songs from your childhood and even pop music will all work. Singing helps your child to pick out different sounds within words and increases their vocabulary. You know you want to sing "Baby shark, doo doo doo doo doo doo..."
Read!
Open a book and I will too. You read to me and I'll read to you!
Babies and toddlers love books. Okay, so some babies like nothing better than to chew on a board book, but that's how you appreciate a good book when you are under 12 months of age! When toddlers and preschoolers turn a page, point at a picture or shut a book they are learning about reading and how to handle a book. Go and visit your nearest library and pick out some picture books for you and your child to read together - at the library and at home. Make a visit to the library a weekly habit to foster a love of books. Have a pile of books on hand at home, and read to your little one on the couch or at bedtime. Showing your child that you value reading will help your child want to read too.
Play!
Your child is learning so much while they are having fun
Play builds literacty skills. It's great for emotional, social and brain development. You don't need lots of expensive toys to play. Children love to play with pots and a wooden spoon. Two cups becomes a tea party and a blanket can become a tent. Play time is important, so let your imagination run wild.
Write!
Scribbling is important...
Toddlers and preschoolers love to experiment with crayons, pencils and chalk. I know that pages of scribbling might not seem very productive, but it's helping your child learn to get ready to write their name. You just need paper and crayons to draw and scribble together. You may not be the next Picasso, but your child will love to watch you draw and will try to model your behaviour. Holding a paintbrush also imitates a pencil, but don't forget about some good old finger painting. It's messy, but fun!
It's all free!
Looking for free activities for your young child? There are so many FREE options out there for you to give your child a great start on the journey to reading and writing. Click on your city to find free activities that will connect you with community partners who can provide support and encouragement. Learning can be fun!
What online resources are available?
Sometimes you just want to stay home with your little one. There are many websites that can give you great ideas for fun and educational activities to provide a stimulating home environment.
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