Young Children Learn When Adults Encourage Literacy Play.

Research provides evidence regarding the importance of parents playing with their children. Children whose parents play with them are better prepared for school, and their chances of succeeding in school are improved (West, Denton & Germino-Hausken, 2000). When that play includes literacy activities such as playing pretend, writing and having one-to-one conversations with adults, it prepares children for success when formal reading instruction begins (Snow, Burn, & Griffin, 1998: 171, 183-184). Findings specific to literacy learning during play indicate that children learn best when-

• adults provide enough time and space for children's pretend play (20-30 minute play sessions are recommended). All of our guides and workshops point out the importance of play in children's learning. Many of our lessons include adult-child pretend play sessions.
  
  
• adults provide reading and writing materials for children to play with, such as giving them supermarket flyers to cut apart and use when playing "Store." Our guides emphasize how important it is for children to have access to literacy tools such as paper, word cards, crayons, pencils, print. Materials for our workshops include literacy play materials such as a maze related to the story, masks and puppet patterns for acting out stories. Our programs also include suggestions for literacy materials that trainers might provide for families to take home and use.
  
  
• adults join in children's play, and in doing so they model and prompt the use of literacy skills. For example, the adult who writes down an order while playing restaurant is showing her child that writing helps us remember, and is also showing her child how to write some simple words. Our materials contain both general and specific ideas for literacy play. Every set of lessons includes a playful literacy activity for adults and children to enjoy together during the program and to play later at home.