"The early years--from birth through age eight--are the most important period for literacy development." -- From Learning to Read and Write by Susan Neuman, Carol Copple and Sue Bredskamp

The ability to read is critical to a child's success in school and later in life. In today's world and certainly in the future, communication requires a high level of literacy proficiency. Caring adults have a significant role and responsibility to help children develop excellent literacy skills. Adults can provide children, from birth to eight years old, a host of experiences in the home, childcare and school settings that promote language development and literacy skills. Activities such as talking, singing and reading engage children, while they support and enrich their early learning.

Emerging literacy relates to both reading and writing. It suggests that these two skills develop simultaneously. Literacy development is seen as emerging from a child's early-infant sounds--cooing and babbling--and early writing attempts--scribbling. With parental and other adult encouragement, these at-first tentative efforts will form an important foundation for what will later become a growing youngster's strong and sure literacy skills.

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