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Emergent literacy is the stage where young children begin to understand language, books, and communication, even before they can read or write. At Collaborative for Children, this early learning is a key part of how we prepare children for success in school and life.
Through our child care Centers of Excellence, we create fun, engaging environments where children build vocabulary, sentence structure, and communication skills. These early experiences help children become confident learners and creative thinkers.
Our Centers of Excellence are more than just child care, they are places where children grow through play, stories, and conversation. Each center uses a certified ECE curriculum that focuses on:
– Talking and listening
– Storytelling and pretend play
– Recognizing letters and sounds
– Asking questions and solving problems
These activities help children connect words to meaning, which is the first step toward reading. And when children feel confident using language, they’re more likely to succeed in school and beyond.
Sign up for our weekly newsletter“There’s nothing better than a story from a child’s imagination. That spark of creativity is where learning begins.”
— Collaborative for Children Educator
Emergent literacy doesn’t stop at books. At Collaborative for Children, we blend STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math) with language learning. For example:
– Children build towers and describe what they’re doing
– They explore nature and talk about what they see
– They draw pictures and tell stories about them
This mix of hands-on learning and language helps children think critically, solve problems, and express themselves clearly.
You don’t need a classroom to build literacy. Parents can support early learning at home by:
– Reading books together every day
– Singing songs and rhymes
– Talking about what you see on walks or in the store
– Asking open-ended questions like “What do you think will happen next?”
Collaborative for Children offers tools like the Collab-Lab mobile classroom and free learning kits to help families turn everyday moments into learning opportunities.
Get the Free IWonder Handbook HereAt one of our Centers of Excellence, a 4-year-old named Jordan used to be shy and quiet. After a few weeks of storytelling and group reading, he began sharing his own stories with classmates. His teacher said, “Jordan found his voice through books. Now he’s the first to raise his hand.”
Donate NowEmergent literacy is the first step toward a lifetime of learning. Whether you’re a parent, educator, or community leader, you can help children build strong language skills by:
– Enrolling in a Center of Excellence
– Using our certified ECE curriculum at home
– Bringing the Collab-Lab to your neighborhood
– Supporting our mission through donations or volunteering
Emergent literacy is the stage when young children begin to understand language, books, and communication before they can read or write.
You can help by reading together, singing songs, asking questions, and talking about your day. Collaborative for Children offers free tools and resources to support you.
Emergent literacy builds the language and thinking skills children need to succeed in kindergarten and beyond. It helps them become confident, curious learners.
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