Concluding Thoughts

From From Birth For Life

This research summary was developed to expand ELCC practitioners’ knowledge of early language and literacy development, highlight the activities that they are already using in support of language and literacy, and suggest ways to further enhance their professional practice. According to the emergent literacy perspective, infants and young children are continuously learning skills related to reading, writing, speaking, and listening. Children develop through a series of milestones, and each child’s development is influenced by individual, family and community factors.

ELCC practitioners can use a variety of fun activities and games to support specific emergent literacy skills, such as vocabulary, phonological awareness, decontextualized language, and print awareness. Reflective ELCC practitioners observe and record day-to-day activities in order to monitor children’s growth and support them in developmentally appropriate ways. Individual, cultural, and linguistic diversity create challenges and opportunities in the ELCC centre. Overall, knowledgeable ELCC practitioners are an important piece of the puzzle that joins together in support of children’s language and literacy learning.