The early education experts at NIEER note that early experiences with books and print materials -- especially those that occur before grade school begins -- can contribute to the development of reading comprehension. Whether the teacher is reading a book during circle time or sits one-on-one with a child, these early experiences can help kids understand the basic concepts and conventions of literacy learning. The more preschool reading activities that a child experiences, the more exposure he has to viewing print letters and words as symbols with meanings.
In their joint position statement on "Learning to Read and Write" the National Association for the Education of Young Children and the International Reading Association note the benefits that reading in the preschool years can have on later school success. These early literacy experiences prepare the young child for more in-depth literacy explorations that occur in kindergarten and grade school. Child-centered reading that is interactive and has themes that interest the young student are ideal as a first step towards later school success.
Understanding that words and pictures are two different things may seem like second nature to you as the adult, but aren't always clear to a young child. The educational experts at NAEYC recommend early exposure to print concepts in the preschool classroom through reading in order to help children learn that words carry meanings, that printed words and oral language correspond -- through reading aloud activities -- and even basics such as words are strings of letters that are grouped together. These are crucial areas of knowledge that children must master before progressing on to reading on their own.
Phonemic awareness refers to the way a child understands how words are made from different sounds. According to the education professionals at Scholastic, there are 44 phonemes in the English language that make up the smallest sounds of words. Reading activities can help preschoolers understand, name and even change phonemes. For example, through book reading the young child can name different words that begin with the same sound. As the child develops, she can replace one sound with another, such as "cat" becoming "bat."