‘Literacy is the capacity, confidence and disposition to use language in all its forms. Literacy incorporates a range of modes of communication including music, movement, dance, storytelling, visual arts, media and drama, as well as talking, listening, viewing, reading and writing…In an increasingly technological world, the ability to critically analyse texts is a key component of literacy‘ EYLF

Literacy in Early Childhood

During the early childhood years, particularly from birth to aged five, young children need exposure to literacy in their everyday life experiences. Brain research highlights the need for early stimulation and exposure to key concepts related to literacy and numeracy. Therefore, it is important to clarify what literacy and numeracy is not so that inappropriate practices are not used with young children.

Literacy for young children is not:

Stencilled letters

Writing practice

Reciting the alphabet

Pasting pre drawn letters or numbers

Literacy begins with exposure to oral language. Children need exposure to a wide range of oral language such as: Speaking, Conversation, Listening to others, Having fun with language, Making up stories, Being told stories, Nonsense rhymes and jokes, Songs, poetry and finger plays. The environment needs to promote opportunities for oral language in a range of ways and for a good deal of time during the program. Educators, who sit, listen and chat with children are vitally important.

Literate behaviours involve a variety of symbolic thinking activities. Children’s early literacy experiences include drawing, modelling, building, digging, painting, scribbling, listening, talking, pretending, oral language recognition and use, block and toy play, dramatic play, dressing up, and various print mediums as well as all kinds of reading and looking at books.

Written language is about providing children with opportunities to recognise symbols, to have stories written about their work or experiences, to be surrounded by print and language in the learning environment. For example, providing menus in a pretend restaurant, following recipes in a cooking experience or putting magazines in a waiting room as part of dramatic play.

Literacy, in a play-based Approach

A play-based curriculum emphasises that children in the early years take in information through open ended play-based experiences with a hands-on approach. The play-based curriculum reflects a hands-on approach to learning where children both indoors and outdoors are surrounded by opportunities for play which promote literacy.

In our environment we play with literacy by:

Using writing in our pretend play, making lists, drawing maps, creating recipes, telling stories, using puppets, role playing,

making up songs and rhymes, creating agreements,

writing each other messages, cards invitations,

yarning, learning words from other languages….and more.

ACECQA – Early Literacy and Numeracy: Self-Guided Learning Package 2011.