Literacy in the early years is foundational for children’s overall learning and long-term academic success. Early literacy experiences, such as listening to stories, engaging in conversation, exploring books, and experimenting with mark-making, build essential foundational skills including vocabulary, comprehension, communication, and critical thinking. These experiences prepare children for reading and writing, but also nurture curiosity, confidence, and a positive interest toward literacy.
“Children are made readers on the laps of their parents” – Emilie Buchwald
When parents, family members, and educators foster opportunities for children to actively participate in reading and storytelling, they deepen children’s understanding, strengthen vocabulary, and encourage meaningful connections to language and literacy. Prioritizing rich, engaging, and interactive literacy experiences, lay the groundwork for children’s future learning and effective engagement with the world around them.
This article highlights two practical strategies and examples of resources available in CDRCP’s Resource Centre, for making literacy opportunities interactive at home or in early years settings. By integrating open-ended questions and hands-on elements, adults can enrich story experiences and promote a dynamic, child-centred approach to early literacy.
Ask open ended questions
Open ended questions provide an opportunity to dive deeper into the story. By pausing and asking questions such as “What do you think will happen next?” or “What do you see on the page?” encourages thoughtful conversation and provides opportunities for children to practice and enrich their vocabularies. Additionally, open-ended questions support creative reflection which often results in novel ideas being both expressed and explored (Dietze & Kashin, 2019).
Incorporate interactive elements
Incorporating items such as puppets, animals on popsicle sticks, story boards, and instruments are a few examples of ways to add an interactive element to a literacy experience. Interactive elements like these provide an opportunity for children to have a hands-on opportunity during the experience.
Two CDRCP Resource Centre suggestions
Old MacDonald Literacy Kit
 | What is included in the resource bin – Animal finger puppets – Felt board – Felt story pieces – Les amis de la ferme / 3 figurineses de ferme (book) – Old MacDonald figure – Old MacDonald program ideas – Old MacDonald song – Old MacDonald with CD (book) – Photos on the farm cards with tip sheet – Sur la Ferme a mathurin (book) |
What’s in my pocket?
 | What is included in the resource bin – Apron Small objects – What’s In My Pocket (book) |
For more information on how you can borrow these resource kits, or to learn more about other available materials, please visit Resource Centre – Child Development Resource Connection Peel.
Reference
Dietze, B., Kashin, D. (2019). Playing and Learning in Early Childhood Education
(2nd ed.). Pearson.