What Early Literacy Behaviors Are Expected for Infants and Toddlers?
Children progress at individual rates in their literacy development. Although factors such as intelligence and language play a role in literacy learning, growth is also contingent upon the frequency and types of experiences with print and interactions with literacy materials. The ability to read and write does not develop naturally. Children need regular and active interactions with literacy materials. Some children may have easy access to a wide range of literacy materials, while others may not. Children with considerable book experience from infancy develop a complex range of concepts and skills that supports their further literacy learning (Holdaway, 1979). Children with limited literacy experiences may struggle with reading and writing. Due to the variability in learning literacy behaviors, identifying precise age levels for acquisition of specific skills would be inappropriate. Rather, a developmental progression of loosely grouped literacy behaviors in age ranges can serve as a g
