Children aren't born with the tools they need to learn how to read. Instead, the important adults in their lives must support them to develop emergent literacy skills – a set of early abilities that prepare children for learning to read and write when they are ready. 

Decades of research – known collectively as The Science of Reading – point to two essential skill sets that young children need to learn in order to become successful readers:

1. Meaning-related skills
   Children need the vocabulary and background knowledge to make sense of the print they read, and to form ideas and understanding that go beyond what’s written on the page. Meaning-related skills include:
   • Conversation – As a child engages in conversation, they can draw on their knowledge and experience to make new connections, form new knowledge and build language skills. The better a young child’s conversational skills, the easier it will be for them to understand what they read later on.
   • Vocabulary – This skill grows like a snowball – the more words a child knows, the easier it is for them to learn new words and to gain meaning from stories.
   • Story comprehension – Understanding not only what is happening in a book, but why it is happening, and being able to read “between the lines” to uncover the author’s intention.
2. Decoding skills
   Children need to know how to decode print to sound out words and to make sense of what’s on the page. Decoding skills include:
   • Print knowledge – The ability to identify letters, words and symbols on a page and to understand how print works – for example, understanding that print is read from left to right and that letters combine to make words.
   • Phonological awareness – Understanding that words can be broken down into smaller parts, such as syllables, rhymes and individual sounds.
   • Alphabet knowledge – The ability to recognize letters. 
   • Letter-sound knowledge – Understanding that letters correspond to specific sounds in spoken words. 
     
     

The Alarming Trend

All around the world, we've been seeing a concerning trend: school-aged children’s literacy rates are falling. The reasons may be complex, but  one leading cause is clear: too many children are starting school without the essential emergent literacy foundation that prepares them for reading success.

When children enter school with low levels of these skills, they struggle greatly to learn how to read. They're left trying to play "catch-up" in an uneven playing field, putting them at a significant disadvantage in many areas of learning. The compounding effects can lead to lifelong negative consequences, as these children will not experience the opportunities other children have for full participation in society.     

How Early Childhood Educators Can Help

Early childhood educators play a critical role in laying the foundation of emergent literacy skills that set children up for success. Educators can build both decoding and meaning-related skills during shared book reading and meaningful conversations that engage all children in the classroom.

Using Hanen Strategies to Make Literacy Learning Fun!

Hanen’s literacy-building strategies take current research on what builds emergent literacy best and translates it into fun, easy-to-remember techniques that you can apply naturally throughout the day.

Here are some practical handouts and articles with strategies drawn from our early literacy guidebooks, ABC and Beyond™: Building Emergent Literacy in Early Childhood Settings and I’m Ready!™: Preparing Your Child for Reading Success.

Handouts

Build Vocabulary with the Hanen Strategy Shoot for the SSTaRS!

Build Critical Thinking Skills with the Hanen E’s and P’s!

Book Reading Checklist for Educators

Articles

Using Early Childhood Classroom Activities to Build Vocabulary

Five Books, Five Literacy Building Ideas!

Bring on the Books! Ten Tips for Reading with Autistic Children

Book Nook

Get practical tips for building early literacy with fun children's books!