Emergent Literacy: For Early Talkers
Age 0-2 years old

To develop Print Motivation

• Begin reading books early, even when your child is a newborn.
• Make book sharing a special time.
• Let your baby see you reading.
• Visit your public library often.

Vocabulary

• Talk with your baby or toddler about what is going on around you.
• When your baby babbles or talks, listen carefully and answer.
• Ask your baby or toddler questions.
• Speak clearly.
• Speak in the language that is most comfortable for you.
• Read books together every day. Name the things you see in the pictures.

Print Awareness

• Use board books or cloth books and let your child hold the book.
• If there are only a few words on the page, point to the words as you read them.
• Read aloud every day. Read labels, signs, menus—print is everywhere.

Narrative Skills

• Talk to your child about what you are doing.
• Tell your child stories.
• Encourage your toddler to tell you about things. Listen carefully and ask questions.
• Read favorite books again and again.

Letter Knowledge

• Help your baby and toddler see and feel different shapes as you play. (Say, “The ball is round.”)
• Read alphabet books.
• Point out letters on toys, food boxes, and other objects around the house.
• Talk with your toddler about the similarities and differences between two objects.

Phonological Awareness

• Say nursery rhymes so that your child hears words that rhyme.
• Add actions as you sing a song or recite a poem. This helps your child break down language into separate words.
• Singing songs is a good way to help your child hear syllables in words. In most songs, each syllable in a word gets a different note.
• Make up your own silly nonsense rhymes.
• Say rhymes and sing songs in the language that is most comfortable for you.

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