From the Head of Education’s Desk
Language, Literacy and Creative Expression:
Every Conversation Counts: How language and literacy build school readiness from the very beginning
For many years, literacy was often thought of as learning the names of letters, memorising sight words, and eventually learning to read. Today, we know there is so much more to the story of language and literacy.
School readiness doesn’t begin when a child learns the alphabet. It begins in the earliest interactions between babies and the adults who care for them. It begins when an infant hears a familiar voice, when a toddler points to a picture and attempts to use a new word in context, and when a preschooler confidently tells a story about an imaginary dragon or a trip to the supermarket with their gogo.
At Earlybird, Language, Literacy and Creative Expression is about helping children understand, interpret, and communicate meaning in a variety of ways. From our youngest Blue Group learners through to our Orange Group children preparing for formal schooling, we create environments rich in conversation, storytelling, books, music, movement, art, and dramatic play, through which children develop the communication skills that form the foundation of both school readiness and lifelong learning.
Children are encouraged to experiment with language, express their ideas, ask questions, and communicate in ways that are meaningful to them. These experiences help children build vocabulary, comprehension, listening skills, confidence, and self-expression – all essential foundations for success in a formal learning environment.
Research consistently shows that early language development is one of the strongest predictors of later academic success. Children who have opportunities to engage in rich conversations, hear stories, explore books, sing songs, and express themselves creatively develop the foundations needed for reading, writing, comprehension, and learning across all subjects.
Importantly, communication is not limited to spoken or written words. Young children communicate through movement, music, art, dramatic play, and storytelling long before they can fully express themselves through language alone. Whether a child is babbling, inventing stories, painting a picture, singing a song, or explaining their thinking, they are developing essential communication skills and learning that their ideas have value.
By the time our Orange Group children begin their transition to formal schooling, they are not simply recognising letters and sounds. They are confident communicators who can express ideas, listen to others, ask questions, and engage meaningfully with the world around them.
We are proud to collaborate with Wordworks through their Every Word Counts (Story Time) and Little Stars (Story Fun) programmes. Through engaging stories, songs, conversations, and family activities that are easily integrated into our two-week theme-based curriculum, these programmes help nurture children’s language and literacy development from infancy through to school readiness, while empowering families to be active partners in their child’s learning journey. (https://wordworks.org.za/)
Because school readiness starts with finding your voice.
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