Literacy for
Babies
Carla Mason
Early Literacy
• Early literacy is everything children know
about reading and writing before they can
actually read and write
• Early Literacy is more that just books
• Early literacy does not mean teaching reading
to infants and toddlers
• Learning to read is a fluid process that begins
at birth
Early literacy
Literacy begins on the lap of a
loved. parent or caregiver. As
you sing, rhyme, and tell stories,
babies develop listening skills
and an interest in and love of
words
(“Zero to Three Literacy”)
First Steps to Developing
Literacy
Book-handling—touching or handling books,
playing with books.
Looking and recognizing (a picture, character
or scene).
Understanding pictures and stories.
Story-reading behaviors.
Encouraging Literacy
Development
 Keep it short
 Repetition is key
 Express yourself
 Let baby explore
 Provide appropriate
resources
Reading
Milestones
Birth – Toddlers
Birth to 6 Months Old
Listener, Observer, Cooer
 Lullabies and nursery
rhymes are first stories
 Begins to recognize a
song or rhyme if
repeated often
 By 4 months begins to
show interest in books
 Needs sturdy vinyl or
cloth books
6 to 12 Months Old
Cooer, Babbler
• .
 More interested in the
story
 Promote interest by
looking at books and
talking about the pictures
 Invite 8- or 9-month-old
baby to turn the pages
 Introduce objects and
pair with words
12 to 18 Months Old
Word Maker
 Enjoys reading with
adults
 Turns pages and names
pictures of familiar
objects
 Interested in books
which they can touch
and sniff
Toddlers
Phrase Maker
 Will invite others to
read to them
 Show preferences and
will ask to have books
read over and over
 May use “storybook
language” in everyday
conversations
Advantages of
Reading to Babies
Reading……
 Promotes bonding
 Stimulates the brain
 Develops attention
span
 Promotes listening
 Develops concept of
print
 Increases vocabulary
 Instills love of reading
 Develops literacy
fundamentals
 Increases knowledge
of the world
 Helps word meaning
(“Readtoyourbaby”)
Building Blocks
for Literacy Skills
Print motivation
Print awareness
Letter knowledge
Phonological
awareness
Narrative skills
Vocabulary
(“icpl”)
What Research Says
Early Language & Literacy Development
Brain Development
Play-Based Learning
Oral Language
Literacy at Home
(“Babyconnections”)
References
•
•
Babies > Emergent Literacy - Grow Up Reading
www.growupreading.org/babies/index.php?section=120
•
•
Babies Love Books: Early Literacy
www.babieslovebooks.org/early-literacy.html
•
Early literacy: birth to six | Multnomah County Library
•
https://multcolib.org/birthtosix
•
•
Early Literacy | United for Libraries
www.ala.org › UNITED › Products & Services › Books for Babies
•
•
50 Literacy Activities for Babies - Room to Grow: Making Early ...
earlyliteracycounts.blogspot.com/.../50-literacy-activities-for-babies.h...
•
How to Create a Literate Home: Baby and Toddler . Reading ... - PBS
•
www.pbs.org/.../how-to-create-a-literate-home-baby-and-toddler/
•
•
ICPL - KidSpace: Early Literacy
www.icpl.org/kids/early-literacy.php
References Continued
•
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Literacy Development For Babies | LIVESTRONG.COM
www.livestrong.com › ... › Literacy Development for Babies
•
Play and literacy for babies and toddlers | The Monkey Speaks
•
themonkeyspeaks.wordpress.com/.../play-and-literacy-for-babies-and...
•
•
Raise a Baby Bookworm - Parenting.com
www.parenting.com/article/raise-a-baby-bookworm
•
•
Read, speak, sing to your baby: How parents can promote literacy ...
www.caringforkids.cps.ca › Home › Pregnancy & Babies
•
•
Read To Your Baby - Reading Tips, Literacy Begins at Birth
www.readtoyourbaby.com/read_literacy.html
•
•
What is Early Literacy? - Baby Connections
www.babyconnections.ca/what-is-early-literacy.html
•
•
ZERO TO THREE: Early Literacy Skills from Birth to 12 Months
www.zerotothree.org/site/PageServer?pagename=ter_par...literacy