The Early Learning Coalition of Sarasota County is dedicated to empowering parents as their child’s first and most important teacher, while also supporting the broader early education landscape. The nonprofit’s work goes beyond the childcare classroom, focusing on providing families with the tools and resources needed for their child to thrive.
Early literacy skills are the foundation of a child's future learning and success, beginning long before elementary school. These skills—such as recognizing letters, understanding the sounds they make, and developing a love for books—set the stage for strong reading and writing abilities, which are critical for future academic achievement.
Research shows that children who are exposed to books, stories, and conversations early on develop richer vocabularies, better problem-solving skills, and greater social-emotional understanding. By fostering early literacy, parents can help their little ones build the skills and confidence needed to achieve their full potential.
Here are 5 simple tips to support early literacy development for infants, toddlers and preschoolers at home:
1. Read Together Daily: Make reading a daily habit. Even just 10-15 minutes a day helps build strong reading skills and promotes bonding. Let your child choose the book, hold the book and turn the pages.
2. Talk About What You Read: Storytime can be conversation time! Talk about the story and ask your child open-ended questions. This helps your child understand and engage with the material.
3. Read Anytime, Anywhere: Whether you're waiting in line at the supermarket, riding in the car, or cuddling before bed, these moments are perfect opportunities to share a story or explore a book together. They’re also great moments to read signs and labels all around you—point out road signs, packaging labels, grocery lists, or even menus at a restaurant. Every little bit counts.
4. Create a Reading Space: Set up a cozy corner with books in your home. A dedicated space encourages regular reading.
5. Lead by Example: Let your child see you read. Show them how much you enjoy reading. When they see you in action, they’ll be more likely to want to read too.
The ELC is here to help guide you on your child’s literacy journey. Explore more resources here:
https://www.growingmindsread.org/resources/
Need more books at home? Join us at our annual Storybook Street event on February 8, 2025 at Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota--a FREE, literacy-meets-the-arts extravaganza designed for children ages birth to seven. 20 books per family! Click here for event details.
Questions? Contact: info@elcsarasota.org
