EARLY LITERACY TIPS FOR PRESCHOOL AGE CHILDREN

WHY, FINGERPLAYS, RHYMES, SONGS, MUSIC AND MOVEMENT ENCOURAGE
DEVELOPMENT IN YOUNG CHILDREN:

· Using fingerplays and songs in early childhood is a great way to help young

children learn language, and work on memory and social skills.

· When children sing, listen and act in response to songs and fingerplays, they

increase their vocabulary and develop listening and comprehension skills.

· The rhythmic chanting of fingerplays helps children develop a good sense of "the beat."

· Children can gain large and small motor skills by performing movements

required in fingerplays, music and movement.

· Eye-hand coordination is improved. Visual connections with fingerplays

are important for writing and reading.

· Small motor skills are honed. Doing fingerplays is like sending the fingers to the gym to exercise.

· Executive function is gained. Children develop self-regulation

and impulse control when they participate in finger plays.

· Fingerplays introduce children to new words to increase their vocabulary and help

children connect vocabulary to words they hear in stories and in every day conversation.

They also help children learn sentence structure and practice speaking in complete sentences.

Trace Numbers and Letters with Your Pointer Finger

· It's a pre-writing skill.

· It aids children in identifying the shape of numbers and letters.

· As you trace a letter say the letter and make its sound.

· Think of other words that start with the letter sound you are tracing.

Early Literacy Tips: Projects