When people think about helping children learn to read, they often picture flashcards, letters and sounding out words. While these are important tools in school years, reading actually starts long before a child can recognise a single letter.
It starts through play. Every time a child splashes in the bath, helps cook dinner or acts out a favourite story, they are developing the skills that will later support reading and writing
The good news is that you don’t need expensive resources or structured lessons to help your child develop these skills. Some of the best opportunities happen during everyday moments.
Talk Together
One of the simplest ways to support your child’s literacy is to talk with them throughout the day.
When you’re building with blocks, talk about what you’re making. When you’re on a walk, point out things you can see. When you’re cooking dinner, describe what you’re doing.
You don’t need to turn it into a lesson. Just chat, wonder aloud and introduce new words naturally.
Children learn language by hearing it used in meaningful ways.
Read Together
Reading with children doesn’t have to mean sitting quietly and reading every word on the page.
Pause and talk about the pictures. Ask what they think might happen next. Wonder together about how a character is feeling. Let your child turn the pages, point things out and tell parts of the story themselves.
The conversation is just as valuable as the book itself.
Play with Stories
Stories don’t have to stay inside books.
Children love acting out favourite stories with toys, puppets or dress-ups. They might retell a story they’ve heard a hundred times or create a brand-new adventure of their own.
When children play with stories, they are learning how stories work. They are building vocabulary, imagination and confidence with language.
Make Everyday Moments Count
Literacy learning happens everywhere.
At the supermarket, children can help find items on a shopping list. In the kitchen, they can help read a recipe. During bath time, they can tell stories about floating toys. On a walk, they can spot signs, letters and interesting things around them.
These small moments add up.
Your Local Library Can Help
Brimbank Libraries are designed to support these everyday literacy moments.
A visit to the library is about much more than borrowing books. Children can explore stories, discover new interests, join conversations, sing songs, play with toys, create and connect with others. Every one of these experiences helps build the language and communication skills that support reading.
Our Baby Bounce and Storytime sessions are filled with songs, rhymes, stories and opportunities for interaction. These programs help children develop vocabulary, listening skills and a love of books while giving families ideas they can continue at home.
Even a simple visit to browse the shelves can spark important conversations. You might talk about a dinosaur book your child has chosen, wonder why a character looks sad on a book cover or discover a new topic that captures their imagination.
Children don’t need to sit still and read for an hour to develop literacy skills. They learn through exploring, questioning, imagining and talking with the adults around them.
Keep It Fun
Perhaps the most important thing to remember is that children learn best when they are engaged, relaxed and having fun with their trusted caregivers. A child who associates books, stories and conversations with positive experiences is more likely to develop a lifelong love of reading.
So next time your child is building a dinosaur park, hosting a teddy bear tea party, acting out their favourite story or visiting their local Brimbank Library, remember, they may be playing, but they are also developing the language, communication and storytelling skills that help build strong readers. For our youngest learners, the best literacy learning is play.
Storytimes
Brimbank Libraries offers a range of Storytime programs to support your child’s early literacy development. Sessions include stories, songs, rhymes and activities designed to encourage a love of reading for babies, toddlers and preschool-aged children.
Programs run weekly during the school term at libraries across Brimbank.
Toy Library
Borrow from a great selection of toys at the Toy Library in Deer Park and Sunshine Libraries, including puzzles, blocks, ride-ons, STEAM toys, sporting equipment and more.
Library members can take home up to two toys for four weeks. Toys are for use at home and must be returned to Deer Park or Sunshine Library. Please note that toys cannot be reserved and are available on a first-come, first-served basis.
