Literacy alongside Speech and Language Skills
Typically, when children start school, they have 5,000 words in their vocabulary. As a result, a child needs to hear and learn about 3.5 words every day between the ages of 1 and 5.
To achieve this, children must hear a lot of language throughout the day. Research suggests children benefit from listening to unfamiliar vocabulary as well as everyday conversations.
Reading to children exposes them to a wide variety of languages, it:
· Includes unfamiliar words.
· Throughout the book, the same words are often repeated within different sentences, which facilitates understanding.
· Children are often exposed to repeated words.
Are speech and literacy linked?
They are yes – reading gives children many opportunities to develop their speech and language skills. Reading develops a child’s thinking skills, which can help develop and maintain social relationships. These developed skills will also support your child when communicating, enabling them to express and understand feelings.
Further links:
https://bookfairs.scholastic.co.uk/travelling-books
https://www.unlockingcommunication.co.uk/
Dickinson_paper_2012.pdf