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Four Early Learning Guidelines

Guideline 1— Communication is Critical

Communicating with others, whether it is done through talk, written material, gestures, or expression through the arts is critical to sharing with the world who we are and what we know. Research has shown that young learners are capable learners of language, are good problem solvers, and are willing to offer their ideas when given appropriate, meaningful, and interesting experiences and activities.

There is much that children learn about letters, numbers, words and stories before they enter formal schooling. Much of what children learn about communication is done through play.

  • Early literacy experiences are strengthened by:
  • Spending time one-on-one with children in conversation;
  • Reading to children daily;
  • Providing writing materials for children to “draw” their words;
  • Demonstrating reading and writing to children through daily life;
  • Singing songs and playing rhyming games with words;
  • Helping children listen to and identify the beginning and ending sounds of words

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