Summary
What kids hear can support their early literacy development! Whether you're singing, reading, chatting or rhyming, it all helps to grow young readers.
Do you remember trying to “sound out” words? To do this, kids need to already know a lot about how letters, words and sentences sound. Luckily, kids are able to absorb a lot of that information just from what they hear in daily life! Long before your child begins learning their letters, you can support their early literacy by simply talking, singing, and rhyming together.
Even if your child isn’t using full sentences or even words yet, they learn about language simply by hearing you speak. When you talk about your day, you’re introducing them to new words and teaching them about how sentences are formed. Their brains are taking it all in – so just share the version you want them to repeat 😉
But what about all the singing and rhyming at kids’ programs and in children’s books? Is this just baby-talk?
Singing and rhyming actually super-power this language-learning! When we use rhymes, we help kids notice certain sounds more because they’re being repeated. This helps their brains to detect a pattern, and practise making those sounds. Of course the more silly that rhyme is, the more fun it is to practise!
When we sing those rhymes, we take it up another notch because we add the fun of playing with rhythm and how different words and syllables are emphasized. We also often sing words differently than we would speak them, and in this way we draw out certain sounds. This gives kids the chance to hear words in a new way.
Notice the sounds that get extra repetition, the words that get stretched out, and the rhythm that holds it all together when we sing Jack and Jill:
Jack and Jill went up the hill,
To fetch a pail of water.
Jack fell down and broke his crown,
And Jill came tumbling after.
Having fun with language in these ways helps to grow early literacy, but it also builds your relationship with your child! If you want more rhymes and songs to share together, we have a reading list for that. Plus, you can join in on our kids’ programs on Thursday mornings with baby-friendly Rhyme Time and our preschool-oriented Song & Story Hour. Early literacy is more fun with friends!