Early Literacy
What is early literacy?
It is what children know about reading and writing before they can actually read and write. Research shows that children get ready to read years before they start school.
Pre-literacy Skills: Practice these pre-literacy skills to prepare your child for reading and writing:
- Oral Language: Foundation for all language (Talk)
- Phonological Awareness: Hearing smaller sounds in words (Sing)
- Print Awareness/Print Concepts: Knowing that print has meaning (Read)
- Letter Knowledge: Exploring letters (Learning Shapes)
- Vocabulary: Knowing words (Talk/Read)
- Background Knowledge: Prior knowledge about the world (Play)
- Conceptual Thinking
- Content Knowledge
- Book and Story Knowledge
For more information on early literacy, please visit the United for Libraries Early Literacy Page.
1000 Books Before Kindergarten
Prepare your child for school and lifelong learning by participating in the 1000 Books Before Kindergarten Program. Pick up a log at the Children's Desk, print it from home or simply keep a list of the books you read together. Repeats count! You can use any way you want to keep track of the titles read including apps you may find in your app store. Any pre-school-age child who has not begun kindergarten may participate.
Come visit the Children's Desk after every 100 books for a sticker. At 500 and 1000 books, your child's name will be put up on the Storytime Room Wall! After 1000 books your child will receive a small prize while supplies last.
Read any book you want. Need inspiration? Try this list.
Do you know the Ten Read-Aloud Commandments?
Popular author Mem Fox does!
All it takes is 15 minutes a day! Check out readaloud.org.
Are you helping your little one get ready to read?
Early Connections Last a Lifetime
Early Childhood Intervention helps families with children ages 0-3 in in Collin, Rockwall and Kaufman counties who have developmental delays. 
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has positive parenting tips and developmental milestones on their website for infants through adolescents. 
Learn the signs. Act early.
Early Literacy Stations
Does your child like to play with these computers at the library? Find more info about them here. Early Literacy Stations are temporarily unavailable due to COVID restrictions. We will let you know when we can make them available again.
