Introduction to language and literacy development
Infants are primed for language from birth. Cooing and babbling give way to first words, word combination, and early narrative (Garvis et al., 2019; Kaywork, 2020). Long before formal reading, meaningful print/symbol exposure, rich conversational language, and group attentiveness are the foundations of true early literacy (Masterson, 2018).
Key teacher competencies
- Using language that is rich, sensitive, and reciprocal (serve-and-return)
- Every day, reading aloud, pausing, and expressing curiosity
- Creating a stress-free workplace that is rich in print and language
- Respecting every attempt at communication, including gestures, noises, and native tongues (Dean et al., 2019)
Authentic curriculum links
Every field relies on language, including music, science, theatre, and art.
Three original learning experiences
| AGE | TITLE & DESCRIPTION | LINK TO THEORY & EYLF |
| 0-12 MONTHS | Parentese and song dialogues (educator sings slowly, and wait for baby’s response) | Serve-and-return – EYLF 5.1 |
| 12-24 MONTHS | Book conversation (point, name, ask, “where…?” let children turn pages) | Joint attention- EYLF 5.2 |
| 2-3 YEARS | Storytelling basket (objects from a story, children retell in their own words) | Narrative skills – EYLF 5.3, 5.4 |
RESOURCES
PICTURE BOOKS
Thelma The Unicorn
Every bunny Dance
SONGS
Itsy bitsy spider
Wheels on the bus
RHYMES/LULLABIES
Incy wincy spider (Australian version)
Twinkle twinkle little star
MOVEMENT GAME
Head, shoulders, knees and toes (slow-fast-sound variations)