Dear Pre–Schooler Parents and Caregivers,

Welcome! We are excited to share some valuable information about early literacy and how you can assist your child's development at home. Learning to read and write begins long before a child starts school — this is called early literacy.

What is Early Literacy?

Early literacy refers to the skills, knowledge, and attitudes that children acquire before they begin formal reading and writing.

These includes:

• Oral language – talking, listening, and understanding words

• Vocabulary – knowing the names of things and using a variety of words

• Print awareness – understanding that print carries meaning and that we read from left to right

• Phonological awareness – noticing and playing with the sounds in words (like rhyming)

• Alphabet knowledge – knowing letter names and sounds

Research shows that children who are exposed to rich language and literacy experiences from an early age are better prepared to succeed in school (Whitehurst & Lonigan, 1998).

Why is This Important?

Children develop early literacy through everyday interactions—talking, playing, reading, and singing with their loved ones. These experiences can provide the foundation for learning to read and write.

According to the National Early Literacy Panel (2008), early exposure to books, storytelling, and language-rich conversations can significantly improve children's later reading achievement.

How You Can Help at Home

Here are some easy and fun ways to support your child's early literacy:

• Read together every day: Choose books with pictures, rhymes, or predictable stories. Ask your child to talk about the pictures and guess what might happen next.

• Talk and listen: Ask open-ended questions and give your child time to respond. This builds vocabulary and thinking skills.

• Sing songs and nursery rhymes: These help children hear the different sounds in words.

• Play with letters: Use magnetic letters or letter puzzles. Help your child recognize the letters in their name.

• Visit the library: Let your child choose books they enjoy and explore different topics.

Remember, you don’t need to be a teacher — just a talker, reader, and encourager. Your involvement makes a big difference!

If you have any questions or want more ideas, please feel free to reach out. We look forward to supporting your child’s language and literacy journey together.

Warm regards,

Maria Scouten

Early Childhood Educator

Bow Valley College

References:

Whitehurst, G. J., & Lonigan, C. J. (1998). Child Development and Emergent Literacy. Child Development, 69(3), 848–872.

National Early Literacy Panel. (2008). Developing Early Literacy: Report of the National Early Literacy Panel. Washington, DC: National Institute for Literacy.

1. Go to calgarylibrary.ca

2. Look for "Get A Library Membership"

3. Fill in your name, birthday, Calgary address, email, and phone number.

4. Hit Save when you're done

5. You’ll get your library card number and a PIN by email—use these to log in right away! If you want a physical card, just stop by any library branch with your ID and proof of address.”

That’s it! Ready to read, stream, and learn with the Calgary Public Library!

In this video we make a basic recipe for vanilla cookies where you can add any ingredients you want to make them your own (Tip: If using fruit, account for the added liquid in fruits). We have also included alternatives to eggs, flour and butter to meet many dietary requirements!

This is to give the children ideas and set the stage for the crafts, build cultural awareness, as well as build their vocabulary! We also talked about different kinds of dumpling around the world, and asked questions such as "What shape are dumplings?" and "Have you ever eaten dumplings?"

While this book does not focus on cultural awareness specifically, as the caterpillar munches through different foods, children naturally pick up on counting, days of the week, and even a bit about how caterpillars turn into butterflies!

E-book is available to borrow from Calgary Public Library using your library card from this link: https://calgary.bibliocommons.com/v2/record/S95C1612371

Visit: https://www.littleredreading.house/

Wee Read is a program that helps adults read with kids aged 5–7. Whether you’re a parent, caregiver, or volunteer, it gives you simple tips to make storytime more engaging and help build early reading skills. It's all about bonding through books!

With wee read, you will:

• learn about the importance of “serve & return” conversational relationships

• learn about early literacy, the building blocks to help support a child in their learning to read journey

• feel confident and joyful in your own ability to effectively read aloud to a child

• learn strategies for making shared reading fun

  
  

Visit: https://weeread.ca/

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Calgary

wee read partners with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Calgary and uses the Wee Read program as part of their mentoring. Volunteers read with young kids, helping them grow a love for books while also building confidence and strong connections.

Visit: bbbscalgary.ca