Skip to main navigation Skip to content
Please enter a search term

Articles about Literacy

Filtered Articles

Building Your Child's Love of Reading: Tips and Strategies for Parents

The key to children’s literacy is setting the foundations of oral language, story telling and a love of books. Compared to our peer countries, Australia is performing above average in literacy. That’s the good news. The bad news is since 2000, when we first participated in the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA), our students’ reading levels have been declining. Rapidly.

Read more

A grandmother and her toddler grandson sit on the floor of the living room and lean against the sofa for story time

When, how and why to read to your child

Parents already know the fun and joy that stories bring, but regular reading brings multiple benefits. Research shows that children whose parents or carers read to them every day at two to three years old had on average higher Year 3 reading ability.

Read more

Teacher reading a educational book to her female student

Focusing on the strengths of your child

Everyone learns in their own way. We used to talk about "learning styles" and that children fell into categories. Now educators and child development researchers focus on the whole child and use multiple modalities and a strengths-based approach.

Read more

Dad helping tie son's shoes

Starting school: How can parents help?

As one of life’s big transitions, starting school can be an exciting and sometimes challenging time. How can you support your child to develop the skills they will need to start school and ensure they are socially and emotionally ready for this change.

Read more

Couple talking with adopted son while he plays

Helping children build language skills

David Loyst has been studying and teaching about parenting for over 30 years as a speech language pathologist, autism consultant, and parent coach. He says it helps to think not just about language development, but ‘expressive’ language development.

Read more

Let’s chat! Conversations with infants

While babies are born with an innate ability to tune into language, their language development is shaped by the kinds of interactions they experience from birth. Professor of Early Childhood Sheila Degotardi looks at the importance of conversation.

Read more

Father and son are spending time in the living room

Conversation skills: Teaching preschoolers

While conversing as adults can seem natural, for a preschool child, communicating ideas and knowing the rules of conversation is a new skill. Associate Professor Tricia Eadie explains that conversation underpins key social skills such as playing.

Read more

Children learning words

Using brain science to build potential

Many parents understand that robust vocabulary in a child can have advantages such as helping children create a solid foundation for school, but research also reminds us that early language environment impacts on more than just a child’s vocabulary.

Read more