All educators inherently serve as instructors of literacy.
Regardless of our primary subject areas—be it mathematics, science, or art—we share a deep commitment to imparting to our students the enduring value of literacy skills across their lifetimes.
Literacy empowers individuals by providing access to knowledge and information, enabling them to make informed decisions. It enhances communication skills, allowing people to express themselves effectively and advocate for their rights. Literate individuals are better equipped to participate in society, contributing to economic and social development. Ultimately, literacy opens doors to opportunities, enabling individuals to fulfil their potential and positively impact their communities.
Although literacy development is foundational to what students undertake at school, this important skill starts from the early years. Early language, communication, and literacy skills are best learned by reading books, talking, laughing, and playing together. Children learn language when you talk to them and they communicate back to you, and by hearing stories read and songs sung aloud. Although this contextually is aimed at infants, the same developmental skills can be taught similarly through childhood and into adolescence.
Technology has had many positive impacts in our society, however there have been negative impacts, particularly in the areas of communication. Dr Nicole Beurkins explains ‘Children develop communication, cognitive, and social skills through their relationships with caregivers and other adults and peers. They require face-to-face engagement to understand and use verbal and non-verbal communication, develop empathy, learn turn-taking, and more. Increased technology use has the potential to create social disconnection for young and older children alike, which can negatively impact the development of social and relational skills.’
So how can you help your child to develop social skills and improve language at home?
It can be as simple as being intentional with your conversations. Discussing their day on the way home in the car instead of listening to music in silence;
Having dinner together as a family, continuing such conversations and allowing for your children to share and converse about matters that are important;
Limiting their screen time, being ‘old school’ and sharing a board game together;
Reading together as a family, sharing a devotion of an evening or even creating a nightly ritual of reading a book together at bedtime.
These tips are quite simple, however will make a positive impact not only on your child’s language and literacy development, but also on your relationships.
Laura Ferguson – Head of Primary