Step by step - an introduction to literacy milestones

 
 
As with developmental milestones, it is important to be aware of 'red flags' or warning signs for reading difficulties.  The following is a list of possible 'at risk' or reading difficulty indicators:
 
http://www.dyslexiaglobalsupport.com/node/23
 
In order to put these into some perspective, one needs to look more carefully into literacy milestones.

 
Unlike speech which is an inherent skill, reading is a complex skill which has to be taught. It is important to remember, however, that reading is not an isolated skill. Long before children are reading, they are listening to their parents and are speaking. Both these skills are connected to reading.
 
This might seem odd; how do listening and speaking connect to reading?
 

From the time a child is born they are listening to the voices of their parents. As they grow and develop, they begin to ask and answer questions. Their attention span is growing and they are able to listen to short stories. These stories are a valuable source of vocabulary and show a child how books work; that the words are read from left to right and the book has a beginning and an end.
 
Reading with children shows them that words carry a message. These words will later become the words they are able to decode or read.
 
It is important to remember that even when your child begins to read that you continue reading to them exploring as many genres or types of books and material as possible. This will enable them to listen to stories which are at their interest level but above their reading level.
 
For more information on literacy milestones please take a look here:
 
Literacy Milestones from Birth to 6 yts of age.
http://www.education.com/reference/article/Ref_Literacy_Milestones/


What parents can do to help.
http://www.readingrockets.org/article/7835