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More than reading and writing - Parent Easy Guide

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Most parents know that reading and writing are very important for children. However, how words help us understand our world and make the most of opportunities is much more than reading and writing – it is called ‘literacy’.

Children don’t wait till they start school to learn literacy skills. The experiences they have every day from birth help them develop their literacy and their knowledge and understanding of the world.

What is literacy?

Literacy is part of our daily life and how we use language in our:

speaking and listening
reading
writing and drawing
storytelling
watching and using electronic media.

How children learn

Children’s literacy development begins in the family from when they are born. It continues in the family, children’s services, schools and communities as they grow up. Children learn from how their family uses language and from having lots of opportunities to talk, read, write, draw, sing and play. They need to experiment and practise their skills. They need to know their learning is important and that you are proud of their efforts.

When children have lots of experiences with words and print their literacy is off to a good start.

Children's literacy skills

Children are developing literacy skills when they:

talk to people, listen, take turns in conversations
ask questions
watch and listen to adults and other children to find out what to do
tell people how they feel. For example, ‘I feel cross’ or what they need, ‘Please may I have a drink?
carry out instructions – from simple, ‘Please put your cup on the table’ to the more difficult, ‘Please put your toys away and go to the bathroom and brush your teeth’
talk about themselves and their own actions. For example, ‘Me good boy today’ or ‘I’m eating a banana’
listen to or tell rhymes, riddles, stories or jokes
recognise problems and possible solutions, for example, ‘The rope keeps falling down. You tie it up?’
engage in imaginative or pretend play
choose their own book or ask for a story
talk about stories and say what they think might happen
play card or board games
scribble, draw and paint with crayons, textas, pencils, paintbrushes
make letter shapes with play-dough
write some of the letters of their name
start to use the words ‘write’ or ‘draw’.

What parents can do

Parents and others in the family are teaching children literacy by their own use of language – how they speak and listen to each other, read, write, use computers and watch TV or movies.

Speaking and listening

Families are teaching by:

talking together
asking and answering questions
explaining things and giving instructions
listening to what others say or for sounds in the environment
saying what they see and do. For example, ‘Oh, look at the colourful leaves fluttering in the wind’, or ‘I’m going to fill the wheelbarrow with all the leaves’
planning and predicting. For example, ‘I wonder if it will rain and if we should take an umbrella?’
sharing stories and jokes
singing songs and jingles, saying rhymes and chants
problem solving. For example, ‘You want the car to go to sport and I need to visit a friend, how can we work this out?’
thinking out loud. For example, ‘I am nearly ready for work – now, have I forgotten anything? Oh yes, I must put the dog out’.

Children need you and other family and friends to:

listen, talk and take an interest in them
read books with them, tell stories and share experiences
answer their questions
agree and argue with them
play word games:
- 'What does the cow say?... 'Moo'
- 'Why did the chicken cross the road?'
- 'Knock, knock. Who's there?'

Encourage children to listen to sounds and words:

sing songs and say rhymes
imitate sounds they hear. For example, motors revving, dogs barking, cows mooing
listen to stories together
listen to the wind in the trees, the waves of the sea, birds and aeroplanes
use different voices. For example, whispering, happy voice, sad voice, shouting, and talking fast or slow
help them work out what sound they hear at the beginning of a word
use simple musical or percussion instruments with songs or rhymes
give them simple instructions to follow.

Teach children:

words for getting along with others. For example, 'hello', 'Thank you', 'Can I join in, please?'
social rules – when and how to talk, when to listen and how to behave in different situations.

Point out:

how people talk and listen. For example, you have to be very quiet to listen
how talk can be used in different ways. For example, when people are cross sometimes, they talk very loudly; when they are afraid they may talk very softly
how different languages sound.

Talk about:

what’s happened – the past
what’s happening now – the present
what will happen – the future
people – what sort of job they do, where they fit in the family or community, their relationship to your child.

Use lots of different words to:

name things, people, actions, feelings
talk about size, shape, colour
name the feel, scent, position or number of things.

Talk about what you are doing:

at bed time, bath time, change time
working in the house, the shed, the garden
feeding animals
planning a trip or a party
watching a parade or pageant.

Show children their learning is important:

listen with interest to what children say
give them time to find the words they want – help them if they really get stuck
take their questions seriously and help them find answers.

Enjoy spending time with your child – talking, playing and sharing together. Children learn through play – you don’t have to make everything a ‘lesson’.

What if we speak more than one language?

If you, your partner or family use a language other than English, you might wonder which one to teach your child. There are benefits when children learn more than one language and it does not cause them confusion or any other language problem. They can build cultural or family bonds when they use their ‘home’ language with family and community. They need to hear and practise speaking each language often to be good at them. It works best when family members speak to children in the language they are most comfortable with.

Reading and watching

Reading books with babies and young children is one of the best things you can do for their development and learning. Find time to share a book with babies soon after they are born – it’s never too early! Point at the pictures they show interest in and name what they are looking at. Baby will gradually learn that the words have meaning. Keep reading books together as they get older.

Let children see you reading:

books, magazines, newspapers
recipes, maps, signs, labels, menus, instructions.

Let children see you:

watching TV or movies
typing on computers, tablets, phones. Make sure you model healthy, balanced use of electronic devices.

Talk about what you read and watch:

This program is about how people live in China.’
‘These instructions tell me how to set up my new mobile phone.’
‘I enjoyed reading that book about machines.’
‘This label tells me what is in this food.’
‘I’m going to try this new recipe.’
‘This magazine has a really interesting story about fresh food markets.’

Point to print when you go out – road signs, bus and train stops, shop windows, T-shirts, posters, letterbox numbers.

Play looking games to help children notice details:

‘Look for the person wearing red shoes.’
‘Find the mouse in the picture.’
‘Find a word beginning with “s”.’
‘Find a number plate with a “three” in it.’
‘Let’s look for writing as we walk to the shops.’
‘Let’s follow this trail of footprints in the sand.’

Help children think about what they see and read:

‘Which way should we go?’
‘Which baked beans do we usually have, this kind or that?’
‘Can I park here?’
‘What happened? What will happen next?’

Talk about the importance of your child’s name, what it means, how you chose it. Help children recognise their name and the letters in it, especially the first letter. Look for letters from their name in other words.

Play:

games which involve imagination and pretending
board games such as Snakes and Ladders
card games such as Snap
matching games with real objects, shapes, pictures or words
jigsaws and puzzles.

Offer children a variety of things to read:

old magazines, calendars, catalogues, blank forms
boxes and packets
books with pop-ups, flaps or interesting pictures, books about children’s interests, rhymes, poetry and music, storybooks and books about facts.

Show children their learning is important – encourage them to keep practising. But remember they need plenty of time to play on their own and with others too.

Drawing and writing

Let children see you:

doodling, drawing, painting
signing documents, paying bills, filling in forms
writing lists, cards and letters
doing crossword puzzles
typing on a laptop or device.

Talk about reasons for writing and drawing:

‘I’m writing a shopping list so I’ll remember what to buy.’
‘Ahmed loves to draw. Perhaps he’ll be a famous artist one day.’ Maybe visit a gallery or exhibition.
‘Peter has written a note to say he’ll be home late.’
‘Jenny has drawn a picture to decorate her book.’
‘Anna has drawn a map to help us find our way to her house.’

Help children develop hand-eye coordination and finger strength – it helps them learn to write and draw.

Let them:

pour water
make and use dough for baking
do puzzles
paint, hammer and thread things
use mud, sand or clay – for squeezing, shaping and drawing in.

Teach by:

helping children solve drawing problems. For example, ‘How can I make a straight line?’
showing them how to hold pencils or use the computer
showing them how to form letters, especially the letters in their name
writing down what your children say.

Let children practise skills by providing:

paper – lined and blank, old envelopes, letters and cards
order forms from catalogues, old diaries and cards
crayons, chalk, pens, pencils, textas, a ruler and eraser.

Encourage children to draw and write by:

drawing a picture about something they have seen or done
illustrating a story
writing their names
making a shopping list
making books with sheets of paper stapled together – about your child, family, animals, birthdays, shopping, a place or holiday.

Show children their learning is important:

giving them time to experiment and practise
noticing and appreciating their achievements
helping them when they get stuck
encouraging them to keep trying
putting their drawings or writings on the fridge and asking them to tell you about them.

Don’t force young children into reading and writing. They will participate when they are developmentally ready and see a purpose for it.

What about screens?

Watching TV and using other screens has become a big part of our lives.

Australian guidelines recommend that children under 2 years do not watch TV or other screens, other than to video chat with loved ones. Screens can get in the way of their learning, and babies benefit from more time playing, and socialising with you.
Children 2 to 5 years should spend no more than 1 hour each day on screens. Young children will learn much more from active play, being outside, being creative, talking, reading and time with family and friends.

If children do watch TV or use electronic games or apps, make sure they are good quality and age-appropriate. The best ones involve children being creative, thinking or solving problems, or getting interested in something in the real world. There are online reviews that can guide your choices. Children also benefit when parents are involved and talk with them about what they are seeing or doing.

Make sure children’s screen time is balanced with plenty of active play, creativity and time with family and friends. Remember to model healthy screen use in your own life.

Working together

It is important to work with your child’s carer or teacher to support their learning. You might:

let them know about your child’s interests, activities or fears
ask how your child is going and how you can help
be as involved as you can in school activities. For example, reading or cooking with children, school council or parent group
visit the service or school
talk briefly to staff when you drop off your child. For example, ‘Jack didn’t sleep very well last night, so he might be a bit tired today’.

If you are concerned about your child’s learning talk with their teacher, carer, doctor, or child health nurse.