What is the practice?
Many if not most of the everyday family and community activities that infants are part of provide opportunities for little ones to be introduced to places and people that are sources of literacy-rich learning activities. This practice guide includes everyday routines and activities for learning communication, language, and the beginnings of reading and writing.
What does the practice look like?
Many if not most of the everyday family and community activities that infants are part of provide opportunities for little ones to be introduced to places and people that are sources of literacy-rich learning activities. This practice guide includes everyday routines and activities for learning communication, language, and the beginnings of reading and writing.
How do you do the practice?
The lists of family and community activities on the back of this page include things that perhaps your child already does or is part of on a regular or frequent basis. Increasing your child’s involvement in the activities and providing your child guidance and assistance while in the activities is the heart of the practice.
How do you know the practice worked?
- Does involvement in an activity get your child to communicate using gestures or vocalizations?
- Does your child seem to understand or get excited when you use words to describe what he is doing?
- Does your child show more interest in starting or continuing an activity?
- Start by identifying which activities are most likely to be fun and enjoyable to your child. The more interesting the activities, the more likely your child will learn communication and language skills.
- Plan on being part of the activities with your child by becoming aware of what your child is most likely to do. Look for child vocalizations, pointing, reaching, and excitement as well as other things.
- Talk about what your child is doing. Describe what your child is looking at, touching, and playing with. Use short, descriptive sentences (such as, “You see the kitty, don’t you?”).
- Be responsive to any attempt on the part of your child to communicate or vocalize. Repeat what your child does or says. This tells your child that his attempts to communicate with you are successful.
- Encourage your child to take the lead and show you what he is doing or looking at. The more your child has opportunities to catch your attention, the better the chance that he will want to “tell you” what he is doing.
More learning during baby’s everyday routines
Rhymes & Songs
Three-month-old Tim has become especially interested in any kind of parent-child play that involves rhymes and singing. He gets excited and enthralled playing Peek-a-Boo, hearing Baby’s Eyes, and listening to his parents recite Rock a Bye Baby. Tim’s mother and father try to include these kinds of play activities into the everyday routines that their son experiences day in and day out. Dad plays Peek-a-Boo while changing Tim’s diaper, plays I’m Gonna Get You while feeding Tim, plays This Little Piggy while dressing and undressing Tim, and recites These Are Tim’s Fingers while playing on the floor, to mention just a few activities. Tim’s day is full of these fun-filled language and literacy-learning activities.
Words Everywhere!
B ryan and his mother spend a lot of time in their neighborhood and community visiting friends, running errands, shopping for food, and participating in community events. One of 9-monthold Bryan’s favorite activities at home is having his mom or dad read him stories. Bryan’s mother has found a fun way of making this interest part of what she and Bryan do when out and about. Mom has made a list of places in and around where they go to provide Bryan reading and storytelling experiences at the local library, bookstore, community recreation center, supermarket, a neighbor’s house, and a community theatre. Bryan so much looks forward to what he will get to do next!
Everyday Family and Community Literacy Activities
- Scribbling with crayons/magic markers
- Playing with alphabet stamps/blocks/letter magnets
- Listening to music
- Playing Peek-a-Boo or So-Big
- Playing finger games and clapping games
- Playing rhyming games
- Playing with puppets and stuffed animals
- Talking on the telephone
- Having pretend phone conversations
- Visiting the library
- Going food shopping
- Family car/bus rides
