7 Ways to Create a Literacy Rich Environment

A literacy rich environment is purposefully designed to stress the importance of reading, writing, speaking, and listening.

To design a literacy rich environment at home include some of the following:

• Interesting books & different types of reading materials everywhere.

Allow access to newspapers, magazines, brochures, mail, and coupons. Keep books in the car, bathroom, purse, or glove compartment.

• A cozy, inviting reading corner.

Make room for a favorite character or stuffed animal to sit & read with the child.

• A safe, organized writing center to allow the child to write, draw, scribble, & create.

Those dots, marks, and scribbles are very important to your child’s emergent writing. Draw with your child! Studies show that children draw for longer periods when engaged with an adult.

• An uncluttered family command center. 

Give the child access to part of your family command center. This can be a special place for him or her to organize mail, view a calendar, and display the day’s objet d’art. For inspiration on how to create a family command center, visit Pinterest and search “Family Command Center”. Good luck not getting too overwhelmed!

• A shelf or toy box filled with manipulative literacy playthings such as alphabet puzzles, refrigerator magnets, and blocks.

Label the shelves with a single word to describe the category of toy. Also, include a small picture or icon to represent that category.

• Child’s name or initials are displayed in one, two, or more places throughout the house.

Children are very interested in seeing their names in print. I think that captivation remains through adulthood too.

• An encouraging presence.

Praise your child for reading, viewing pictures in books, writing, drawing, etc. Give specific feedback so the child knows the exact behavior you like. Model a passion for reading. Read everyday and show your excitement, “I can’t wait to read this book tonight!”

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Kimberly Scanlon, M.A. CCC-SLP is a speech language pathologist, an author and a mother. As the owner of Scanlon Speech Therapy, LLC, a unique boutique practice in Bergen County, Kimberly embraces individuality and treats the whole person. Her goal is to spread compassion, hope, and some speech, language and literacy tips one moment, one person at a time. Her first book, My Toddler Talks: Strategies and Activities to Promote Your Child’s Language Development and her second book, Learning to Read is a Ball are available for purchase online at Amazon and Barnes and Noble.