Families For Life | Literacy Activities for Children-Toddlers

Books can shape young minds in profound ways, building the foundation for language and literacy skills.

Reading has a positive impact on children’s ability to sound out words, spell and express themselves verbally and in writing.

Reading also stimulates brain development, nourishes imagination, and fosters critical thinking and inquiry skills. Through picture books and simple stories, children can grasp social concepts like navigating friendships or managing big emotions. Connecting with plots and characters helps them gain confidence to cope with real-life challenging situations, such as welcoming a new sibling or finding courage to admit mistakes.

Setting aside daily reading time is also crucial for strengthening bonds between children and caregivers, whether educators or parents. This habit nurtures a love for reading and encourages children to read independently as they grow.

PICK THE RIGHT BOOKS FOR EVERY AGE

For children aged 0 to 3, choose books that have:

• Few or no words, or (if there are words) songs and rhymes

• Large, bright and simple illustrations

• Sensory and interactive elements (e.g. lift-the-flap or touch-and-feel books)

For children aged 4 to 6, these may be more appropriate:

• Picture books that make good use of visual elements to create the mood of the story

• Books that have memorable and well-developed characters and plots

• Let older children choose what they want to read. Some may gravitate towards stories about trucks and dinosaurs, while others may prefer humour. Many children also enjoy having the same book read repeatedly. Actively involving children in the reading journey helps spark their interest and excitement in reading.

Book recommendations from 19 months to 3 years old

• The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle

• The Pout-Pout Fish and the Worry-Worry Whale by Deborah Diesen

Contributed by: Beanstalk (ECDA)