Early Reading Skills

• Basic language and communication skills are formed during a child’s first three years

• Language skills at age 3 are a good indicator for predicting literacy levels at age 7.

• In the first six years, children learn at a much faster pace than at any other time in their lives.

Facts

• Girls are keener readers than boys

• Reading enjoyment is clearly related to reading attainment

• Children who read outside of school read better than those who don’t.

More facts

Benefits of early reading

Greater vocabulary and knowledge of

literacy

Healthy social and emotional

development

Longer attention spans and higher

levels of concentration

Greater imaginative and critical thinking

skills

Closeness between parent

and child

Greater memory

Early Years Foundation Stage

Birth to 11 months

Enjoys looking at books and other printed material with familiar

people.

8 to 20 months

Handles books and printed material with interest.

16 to 26 months

Interested in books and rhymes and may have favourites.

22 to 36 months

• Has some favourite stories, rhymes, songs, poems or jingles.

• Repeats words or phrases from familiar stories.

• Fills in the missing word or phrase in a known rhyme, story or game, e.g. ‘Humpty Dumpty sat on a …’.

30 to 50 months

• Shows interest in illustrations and print in books and print in the environment

• Looks at books independently.• Handles books carefully

How to help develop reading skills

• Reading routines• Unplug distractions• Set an example• Find things to read everywhere• Select books appropriate for age• Songs and rhymes and story telling

• Reread favourite books• Access to books• Talk with your child: Ask questions and

remember to listen. • Use technology: audio books for long car

rides.• Have fun: Play word games.

How to help develop reading skills

Games to Play

• Rhyming hat, cat, patPin, tin, bin

• Alliteration big, black, bug, dog, digging, dirt

Don’t forget;

Dads are good role models too!

Children who act like readers become good readers

You are never too young to start reading!

Have fun!