Key Information
Between birth and 5 years old, children develop many skills that are needed for reading, writing, speaking and understanding. Early years educators in Kindergarten and Launch into Learning programs in schools, Child and Family Learning Centres (CFLCs) and public library programs help young children learn these foundational skills with language-rich activities.
Early literacy learning also helps children to develop a strong sense of identity and wellbeing. When children communicate, they express who they are, connect with other people and start to interact with the world around them.
Learning to communicate
Young children communicate in many ways such as hand movements, speaking, writing, using symbols and making sounds. Communicating helps children share ideas, emotions and information with their parents and carers.
Early Years educators in our schools, Child and Family Learning Centres, public libraries and other early years learning programs help young children learn the skills and knowledge they need to succeed in reading, writing and communicating.
Our early years programs and activities are guided by the Early Years Learning Framework Version 2.0 (EYLF). This framework reminds us that all areas of a child’s development are connected and makes sure young children experience different types of learning activities.
Building oral language, reading and writing skills
Our early years programs are based on research about what we know will help your child to learn oral language reading and writing skills.
Our early learning programs and activities help children to:
- Recognise printed and written words
- Know how to hold and turn pages of a book
- Listen to spoken words that are different to what they hear everyday
- Learn more about different topics and different words
- Choose books based on new topics and areas of interest
- Develop their listening and speaking skills
- Read aloud
- Read the same thing more than once.
Reading with your child
Reading aloud to children helps them see connections between their own world and the stories they hear. It introduces them to new ideas and information and shows them language that might be different from the everyday speech they hear.
Reading with your child is a powerful way to help them develop their language and literacy skills.
For more information about early years learning within DECYP visit: Early years learning – Department for Education, Children and Young People