The effects of age and schooling on emergent literacy and early reading skills is difficult to gauge because children develop at different paces. Research seems to show that students who have an extra year of schooling perform better than other students in reading and math, but the gains in ability are more modest. However, whether students begin school at 5 or 6 does not affect how well they do in school later in life. Children are always ready to learn, but they are not always ready to learn certain subjects. Talking to adults and scribbling can help enhance language skills for early children.
The more hours that students spend developing literacy early in life, the more successful that children are with language acquisition later on in life. Children are the most likely to embrace literacy-building activities that are based in play. When researchers included various tools such as pencils and magazines into play, the children built their play around these tools. Children utilize the words that they learn more often than most adults expect. When verbal and written content was demonstrated, children were more likely to learn and understand the content.
In the years before kindergarten, children benefit the most from reading and frequent verbal interaction with their parents and other adults. Any early schooling should have a high emphasis on the development of verbal skills. To master reading skills, students need to continue reading throughout the year instead of simply reading when required to read in school. Children who do not master reading at an earlier age are more likely to qualify for extra assistance for learning disabilities.
When students learn to read, the first skill that they must master is letter identification. They must also develop phonological sensitivity that allows them to sound out words that they see.
Students from disadvantaged economic backgrounds need more help developing phonemic awareness. When schools lack the resources to provide students with frequent one-on-one assistance with reading, computers can provide students with practice and instruction when identifying words.
The younger the children, the greater the difference that the age will have on literacy. For example, the difference between a 4 and 5 year old is much greater than the difference between a 5 and 6 year old.