Lesson 2A: LANGUAGE AND LITERACY DEVELOPMENT TO YOUNG READERS

Introduction

Language and literacy development are major domains of early childhood development. They
involve development of the skills used to communicate with others through languages (language
development), as well as the ability to read and write (literacy development). An example of
language and literacy development in childhood learning is to speak the native language of
one's parents and read basic words in that language. This type of development begins from
birth, even though babies are not yet able to speak using language. The following article covers
the key areas of knowledge one should have in regard to early childhood language and literacy
development, including key concepts, ways that adult caregivers can support the language and
literacy development of babies and young children, and common communication disorders.

Key Concepts

Language has been defined as "a system of symbols that is used to communicate." Related to
this, bilingualism is the ability to speak at least two languages. Children are born with the brain
capacity to learn language because it is an innate feature of the human brain. The brain regions
responsible for language development are Broca's area, which controls speech production, and
Wernicke's area, which controls the understanding and cognitive processing of language.

Language develops through children's interactions with other people around them. For example,
a baby hears his or her mother talk directly to him or her, as well as to other people. Hearing the
mother's speech may encourage a baby to try to imitate the sounds that he or she hears over
time. Furthermore, the baby will quickly learn which words are connected to certain objects or
people, and which words may produce particular responses from others.

Literacy is defined as the ability to read and write. Like language, literacy develops through the
interactions a child experiences with others. In early childhood, for example, literacy can
develop through hearing stories read from books and showing children pictures with words. It is
important that adults do not attempt to force adult levels of reading onto children in their early
development, as this is considered developmentally-inappropriate and may actually work
against healthy development. For example, a child who is pushed to learn to write too soon may
come to connect the activity of writing with failure and disappointment.
Ways to Support Language and Literacy Development in Early Childhood

There are simple ways that adult caregivers can help support the language and literacy
development within early childhood. One way to do this is through books. The following tips help
support children's healthy development in this area using books:

● Incorporate books and reading into daily routines, like a part of a child's bedtime ritual.
● Remember that very young children may not have the attention span to sit through long
books; reading a book partially is still helpful.
● Use all forms of verbal expression to read to children, including reading, singing, and
conversing about the content of books.
● Connect the stories found in books to the child's life (i.e., personalize them).
● As babies get older, show them the words that you are reading, as you read them.
● Keep children engaged in reading by asking them questions along the way, or letting
them tell stories.
● Keep in mind that what young children like in books is different than what older children
like; for example, books with bright colors, large print, and lots of novelty are more
appealing to young children.

Communication Disorders

For some children, language development does not occur in a typical fashion and a
communication disorder may emerge. Such disorders are characterized by deficits in children's
skills in speaking, listening, and/or communicating with others. Common communication
disorders include:

Expressive language disorder - it involves incorrect use of words and tenses, problems forming
sentences (which are typical of the child's age), and limited vocabulary.

Phonological disorder - involves trouble with correct sound production and selection (e.g., a
child with this disorder may replace one sound for another).

Stuttering - involves difficulty with the timing of sounds and words which impairs overall fluency;
a child who stutters may frequently pause in the middle of speech or repeat the same words
several times while speaking.
Dyslexia - This is considered a learning disability and not necessarily a communication disorder,
although it may affect communication; it involves difficulty with separating distinct sounds
contained in words and makes reading especially difficult.

Dysgraphia - This is considered a learning disability and not necessarily a communication

disorder, although it may affect communication; it involves difficulty with writing -- problems with
spelling, proper handwriting, or expression of thoughts in written form.

Milestones in Language and Literacy Development

Language and literacy development are major domains of early childhood development. They
involve development of the skills used to communicate with others through languages (language
development), as well as the ability to read and write (literacy development). An example of
language and literacy development in childhood is learning to speak the native language of
one's parents and read basic words in that language. The following chart summarizes the key
milestones that are typically reached in language and literacy development in early childhood.

Milestones in Language and Literacy Development Chart

Age Milestones

By 2 months Makes cooing and

gurgling sounds
Pays attention to
sounds

By 4 months Can babble

Will cry in various
ways to express
needs (e.g., hunger,
tiredness)

By 6 months Can respond to

people with basic
sounds
Can pronounce
vowels
Can recognize own
name

By 9 months Can make basic

sounds (e.g., "dada"
 and "mama")
Can copy the sounds
of other people

By 1 year Can respond to

others' requests
Can try to verbalize
the words that he or
she hears
Can communicate
through gestures
(e.g., shaking head
no)
Can say many words
May communicate
through pointing

By 2 years Can form short

sentences
Can repeat more
words used by
others
Can name objects
and people

By 3 years Can hold

conversations
Can name more
objects and people
Understands more
complex instructions
(2 to 3 steps)

By 4 years Can tell stories

Understands some
grammatical rules
Can sing a song or
recite a poem

By 5 years Can speak in clear

sentences
Can understand
tense (e.g., past vs.
future)
 May be able to recite
more complex things
(e.g., own address)

Supporting A Child’s Literacy Development at Home

Taking part in literacy development can help develop the child’s reading ability, comprehension,
and language skills. It could also improve the child’s interest in reading, attitude towards
reading, and focus. By learning these techniques, you can suggest to parents and even practice
these at home with your younger siblings.

Engage in activities at home. This is important for a child’s early literacy development. Engage
in: joint reading, drawing, singing, storytelling, reciting, game playing, and rhyming. When joint
reading, you and the child take turns reading parts of a book. When reading, ask him or her to
connect to the story. Have him or her tell you more about what he or she is thinking. You can
use his or her interests to choose books. Give positive feedback and ask open-ended questions
during joint reading to boost his or her interest and critical thinking skills.

For young children, nursery rhymes are especially helpful for language and early literacy
development. Play audiobooks or read aloud at home to increase the amount of language a
child hears. Hang different kinds of print around the house. Label objects in the home. This can
show the importance of language, reading, and writing. Help the child build background
knowledge on a topic. Talk about everyday experiences, show the child pictures, and tell him or
her stories.

If using a different language at home, speak and read to the child in that language. This can
help grow his or her vocabulary and make connections at school. It can also increase his or het
curiosity and readiness to learn at school. Learning opportunities in a home language will help
literacy learning in English.

For older children, play word games, talk about word meanings, and point out interesting or
new words when reading together. Ask questions before, during, and after reading aloud. This
can help the child focus attention on the ideas in the story. Before reading, look at the book
cover and talk about what might happen in the story. During reading, ask what questions he or
she has about the story. After reading, talk about what happened. Ask the child to sum it up and
relate the story to what he or she already knows or has experienced.

For adolescents, engage in conversations, offer a literacy-rich environment, and be a strong

model for reading. Talk about school, magazines, or current events. Ask them what they are
reading and discuss the books. Have a lot of age-appropriate and grade-level reading material
around the home. Model good literacy behavior by reading regularly yourself.

Technology can help families meet the literacy needs of their children. Serve as a “media
mentor.” Talk with the child about using technology in creative ways. These talks can boost
language development, build background knowledge, and help the child develop useful skills.
Be an educated consumer of information on the internet. Review the abilities of the developers.
And, check the quality, usefulness, and content of the information being shared.

References:

https://www.universalclass.com/articles/psychology/child-development/language-and-literacy-de
velopment-in-understanding-child-development.htm

https://improvingliteracy.org/brief/supporting-your-childs-literacy-development-home