Language First, Then Literacy

When we think of school and learning, we often think of reading, writing and arithmetic. Consequently, it makes sense that when thinking about preparing children for school, we throw ourselves into encouraging children to identify letters, read words, and write neatly. However, there are many other skills that are imperative to the functioning of children in the classroom and school environment, and many of these are required by the child from the moment they begin school. It’s crucial that we ensure that these skills are developed, before focusing on literacy.

Language (understanding and talking), clear speech, and social communication are vital skills to have established prior to the commencement of school. For example, a teacher will expect a child to understand and follow multiple-step instructions, to have the awareness to ask for help if they are confused, and to have the language skills and clear speech to communicate this.  Preschool is the time to consolidate these skills, and to identify when there are areas of difficulty so that each child can be best prepared for the school environment in its entirety.

As a brief guide, click here or on the image below, to discover the language, speech, and social communication milestones expected at the ages of 3 years, 4 years and 5 years.