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The Early Literacy Specialist supports early literacy as well as numeracy throughout York Region by providing resources, workshops, seminars and consultations for parents, caregivers and early childhood professionals. She works with individuals and community groups and collaborate on projects and initiatives to support parents and caregivers.
What is Early Literacy - Why is it so Important?
Children gain the skills they need to read and write through daily interactions with family and caregivers, right from birth. It all starts with communication through talking, touching, singing and smiling, asking questions, nursery rhymes and playing peek-a-boo. Every day activities lead to the big things - reading and writing - that make school and learning easier and more successful. Every day activities include
| • telling stories |
• drawing in the sand |
| • reading |
• planning a birthday party |
| • checking bus times |
• following a recipe |
| • reading supermarket flyers |
• writing a thank you note |
| • reading a STOP sign |
• leaving notes on the fridge |
| • reading "Good Night Moon" every night |
What is Numeracy for Young Children - Why is it so Important?
As in reading and writing, math skills start long before school. Every day things that families and caregivers do daily, such as the ones listed below, are all activities that help prepare children for success in math at school.
| • playing Crazy Eights |
• building a sand castle |
| • counting cows |
• waiting for five minutes |
| • sorting socks |
• clapping out a rhyme |
| • setting the table |
• playing Snakes and Ladders |
| • noticing who got a bigger piece of cake |
• asking how many people want hamburgers |
| • singing Five Little Ducks |
• following a recipe |
| • paying for apples |
• counting little toes before a bath |
| • counting how many sleeps until your birthday |
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