In my interaction with young parents, I have observed, they often eagerly anticipate the moment when their young children start reading. Reading itself is a journey. There is a difference between children who read, who love to read and who will be lifelong readers. We all fairly know  about pre-writing skills. But there is a level zero for reading as well which is known as pre-reading skills.

What are pre-reading skills?

A house needs a solid foundation to sustain for years. Likewise emergent literacy skills or pre-reading skill serve as the groundwork for successful reading.

Here are six important pre-reading skills that are crucial components that pave the way for a child’s reading journey.

1. Phonics awareness: The ability to recognize and manipulate individual sounds (phonemes) in spoken words.

2. Vocabulary development:  Building a rich vocabulary through exposure to a variety of words and their meanings.

3. Print awareness: General knowledge about print (eg. which is the front of the book and which is the back, how to turn the pages of a book and that the way we read from top to bottom and left to right.)

4. Letter Recognition: Identifying and knowing the names and sounds of letters, which is fundamental for decoding words.

5. Listening Skills: Developing the ability to listen actively, comprehend spoken language, and follow instructions.

6. Narrative Skills: Understanding and constructing simple stories, which lays the foundation for comprehending more complex texts later on.

These skills collectively contribute to a child’s readiness for formal reading instruction and support literacy development.

Examples and activities for each of the six pre-reading skills:

1. Phonemic Awareness:

 Example: Play rhyming games to identify words that sound the same.

Activity:Sing nursery rhymes or engage in activities that involve recognizing rhyming words.

2. Vocabulary Development:

Example: Read books with varied vocabulary and discuss meanings.

Activity: Create a word wall with new words encountered during daily activities.

3. Print Awareness:

Example: Point out words in everyday environments (e.g., signs, labels).

Activity: Play “I Spy” with written words, asking the child to find specific words around them.

4. Letter Recognition:

Example:Use alphabet books to familiarize children with letters.

Activity:Play games that involve identifying and matching letters, like alphabet puzzles.

5. Listening Skills:

Example: Listen to and discuss different genres of stories or informational content.

Activity: Ask questions about a story to check comprehension and encourage discussion.

6. Narrative Skills:

Example: Encourage storytelling or re-telling familiar stories.

Activity: Create a simple story together, taking turns adding elements to the plot.

These activities can be adapted based on age and developmental stage, providing a fun and interactive way to enhance pre-reading skills.

Birud

Head – Children Literature