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Promoting Early Literacy: Resources and Activities for Children at Every Age

Writer: The KGLC TeamThe KGLC Team
Feb 245 min read

Updated: Feb 25

At Kinder-Garden Learning Center, we are passionate about fostering literacy and language development from the very beginning. Early exposure to books, songs, and stories is a key building block for future academic success. We are thrilled to share some expert-recommended resources and fun activities to support early literacy development, thanks to Ms. Alyssa, Manager of Youth Services at the Meriden Public Library.





Books for Infants (0-12 Months)

Reading to your baby can start early, and even newborns benefit from hearing the rhythm and melody of your voice. Here are a couple of fantastic books recommended by Ms. Alyssa to introduce early language development:

  • For Your Smile: A High Contrast Book For Newborns (A Love Poem Your Baby Can See) by Loryn Brantz

ISBN: 978-0063086340

Prior to 5 months old, babies cannot see in full color. Black and white books are brain food for babies and will help them see the pages of the book more clearly.

  • I Love You Book by Todd Parr

ISBN: 978-0316247566

In this high contrast book, babies will build self-esteem through the affirmations on the pages about being loved by their grown-up. Todd Parr always includes family diversity and a positive message. Count the hearts on the pages with your little one for added fun.


Literacy Activity for Infants:

  • Tummy time with books and mirrors: During tummy time, place a high contrast book standing up in front of your baby to encourage them to lift their head. Read through the book and turn the pages. A similar activity can be done by holding a hand mirror in front of your baby. Tummy time helps your baby build strong muscles to later roll, sit, crawl, stand, walk, and run!

  • Singing nursery rhymes to your baby slows down language allowing them to hear the smaller sounds in words. Understanding that words are made up of letters that make sounds is called phonological awareness.


Books for Toddlers (1-2 Years)

As children grow, they begin to explore more complex concepts like opposites and sounds. Here are a couple of recommended books that encourage vocabulary building and interaction:

  • Baby Up, Baby Down: A First Book of Opposites by Abrams Appleseed

ISBN: 978-1419740916

See your child’s face fill up with excitement with this simple board book about opposites. Children developing during this time love to see the faces of other babies mirroring the activities that they are learning to do!

  • Planes Go by Steve Light

ISBN: 978-1452128993

In this interactive book, grownups will read sounds such as, The helicopter goes, "PITTATATATA PITTATATATA PITTATATATA." The propeller plane goes, "HUK HUK HUK WHIRRRRRRR WHIRRRRRR." Your child will be engaged and laughing while learning that letters make unique sounds.


Literacy Activity for Toddlers:

Make a Nursery Rhyme Song Cube

Supplies: Styrofoam cube at a craft store or online. Glue dots or velcro, paper, scissors. Drawing supplies if writing and drawing the nursery rhyme or access to a printer if printing pictures. Laminate paper before cutting out the images for longer use.

Directions:

  • Think of your six favorite nursery rhymes (one for each side of the cube) and images to represent them. For example, a star for “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star” or a teapot for  “I’m a Little Teapot”. 

  • Open an online design tool like Canva, Microsoft Word, or on a plain sheet of paper draw or place clipart of images that represent the nursery rhyme.

  • Print or draw images and cut paper to the size of the sides of the cube and fasten them with glue, glue dots, velcro, etc.

  • Use the song cube during play time. Take turns rolling the cube and singing the song that appears on top. Talk about each song!


Books for Preschoolers (Ages 3-5)

As children approach preschool age, their vocabulary and understanding of the world grow even more. Here are two delightful books that will captivate their imaginations:

  • Down by the Barn by Will Hillenbrand

ISBN: 978-1477847312

Written to the tune of the classic song “Down by the Station” this picture book by WIll Hillenbrand follows a farmer driving a tractor picking up baby animals on its way to school. You will be introduced to a variety of farm animals, their sounds, and play a hide-and-seek game with a mischievous fox.

  • Find Fergus by Mike Boldt

ISBN: 978-1984849021

Fergus is terrible at hide-and-seek! You will have your kids laughing with this interactive picture book about finding differences and similarities. Prepare to read this one over and over again.


Literacy Activity for Preschoolers:

Letter Awareness Sensory Bag

Supplies: Finger Paint or Tempera Paint, (1-2) Gallon Size Ziploc Bag, Painters Tape, and oil.


Directions:

  • Take a ziploc bag and open. Have you or your child choose 2 colors to pour into the bag.

  • Pour paint colors into the bag - just enough to be able to lay the bag flat on a table, mix the colors, and have your child move the paint around with their fingertip and draw. You still want to see some of the table underneath.

  • Close ziploc bag and tape it to a table, counter, or other hard surface.

  • Have your child practice mixing colors, write letters, their name, or even site words!


Promoting Literacy at Kinder-Garden Learning Center

At Kinder-Garden Learning Center, we are dedicated to promoting literacy and language development through daily activities that spark curiosity and engage young minds. From story time and book exploration to interactive language games, we provide a variety of opportunities for children to develop early reading and communication skills. Our classrooms are designed to support language-rich experiences, fostering a love for books, songs, and stories in ways that resonate with each child's developmental stage.


A little storyteller in the making! This curious reader shares Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? with her friends, sparking imagination and building literacy skills.
A little storyteller in the making! This curious reader shares Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? with her friends, sparking imagination and building literacy skills.


Thank You to Ms. Alyssa and the Meriden Public Library!

A big thank you to Ms. Alyssa, Manager of Youth Services at the Meriden Public Library, for sharing these wonderful resources and activities to enhance early literacy. The library offers a variety of programs and resources to support children’s development and encourage a love of reading. If you haven’t already, we encourage you to visit the Meriden Public Library and explore the amazing things they have to offer!


Join Us in Nurturing a Love for Reading and Learning!

We hope these book recommendations and activities inspire you to share the joy of reading with your child. At Kinder-Garden Learning Center, we believe that early literacy is the key to a lifetime of learning, and we are committed to helping each child on their literacy journey. From story time sessions to hands-on activities, we make sure literacy and language development are woven throughout the day, giving children the chance to engage with books, songs, and stories in ways that excite them.


We invite you to visit us and see firsthand how our children are involved in a variety of literacy and language activities. Whether it’s listening to a new story, singing a fun song, or participating in a creative literacy project, there’s always something exciting happening at KGLC. Come see how we’re nurturing the love of reading and setting the foundation for a bright future of learning!


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