Literacy is important
</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[Dear Editor:
I am currently a senior at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale studying Early Childhood Education. I would like to share some information that I think needs to be available to parents as well as child care providers in regards to early literacy and the benefits it has for children.
Literacy is so very important to children of all ages but seems to be forgotten before the children even enter school. Early literacy skills begin to develop in the first 5 years of life. Your child's early experiences with books and language lay the foundation for success in learning to read. As a parent, you are your child's first and best teacher.
The most important thing you can do to foster early literacy is provide an atmosphere that's fun, verbal and stimulating. The focus should not be on teaching, but on the fun you're having with your child- offer your child plenty of opportunities to talk and be listened to, to read and be read to, and to sing and be sung to. Some tips to provide literacy are: picture books, nursery rhymes, your local library, and even newspaper ads that can lead to discussion. You are the key to your child's success in learning.
When you read, talk or play with your child, you're stimulating the growth of your child. I encourage anyone that has a significant role in children's development to turn the TV off and spend some time talking and reading to your children. Your child not only benefits from this experience, but you do as well.
Lisa Batson
Chester, IL