Tools and toys for literacy: homemade resources

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Tools andtoys for literacy homemade resources

• Early Literacy Specialists of Eastern Ontario

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First.lets define Early Literacy

• Early Literacy is the childs ability to pretend,
  to speak and to listen, to experience and to
  understand to talk about things, events and
  ideas in his or her world.
• Early Literacy reaches beyond print and books. It
  grows from language experience, and covers much
  more than the act of reading itself.
• Source Early Literacy handbook, 1999

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Literary rich activities at low cost

• Play is a childs work its how they learn.
• Young children need a literacy rich environment
  to develop sound speech and language skills.
• Early learning opportunities prepare children to
  learn to read and write.
• In addition to talking, reading and singing,
  children learn from their play experiences with
  educational toys and games.
• These literacy rich toys can be made at home.

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Benefits of making your own toys

• They cost next to nothing, and are fun to make.
• Most craft materials can be found at the dollar
  store or around the house.
• Household items can be reused to create toys and
  art.
• This kind of recycling inspires the
  imaginations of adults and children alike.
• It encourages a childs creativity and helps
  develop problem-solving skills.

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Examples of simple projectsthe sky is the limit!

• Make a RATTLE from empty containers such as a
  plastic film canister, a ketchup bottle or yogurt
  drink bottle - it helps develop sound
  recognition skills.
• Create a PUPPET from a sock, a toilet paper roll,
  a glove, a paper bag it provides a medium for
  interactive play.
• Make a SORTING TRAY from an egg carton to sort
  small objects by size, colour, texture etc it
  helps develop basic numeracy skills.

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• Make a hand-held MASK with eyes and mouth from a
  paper plate it fosters imaginary play.
• Make a STORY STRETCHER for a favorite book by
  finding objects around the house that relate to
  the theme of the book it helps children
  integrate concepts from the story.
• Make a PUZZLE by pasting a picture on cardboard
  and cutting them into different segments it
  supports observation and fine motor skills.
• Keep used envelopes, stamps, grocery store flyers
  to play pretend WRITING GAMES it helps
  children understand how and why we use the
  written word in our everyday life.

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Homemade books?

• Homemade books are inexpensive and fun to make.
• They support the development of vocabulary and
  general language skills.
• They support the acquisition of fine motor skills
  by working with crayons and scissors.
• Children enjoy these books because they have
  input in making them.
• These books are adapted to childs age and
  interest level.
• The exercise is affirming for young children and
  will build confidence.

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Materials for bookmaking

• Dollar store picture albums, scrap-books or
  construction paper.
• Glue sticks, scissors, markers and crayons.
• Binding material to hold the book together, such
  as heavy string or yarn or key ring.
• Photographs, drawings, stickers or pictures
  cut-outs from magazines or store flyers.

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Basic conceptsa book about a childs world

• Name Make sure to include the childs name on
  the cover, and label the items on each page.
• Compare Choose simple themes around concepts of
  colours, shapes, sizes etc.
• Describe Choose a favorite character and
  surround this character with familiar objects, or
  invent a story.
• Read and count Make an alphabet or a counting
  book. Each page can highlight one letter or
  number.
• Touch and feel Collect items from around the
  house to create a touchy-feely book. Example
  piece of flannel for soft, scouring pad for
  rough

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Now lets have fun! Explore the materials at your
disposal and express your creativity

• Remember The process is more important than the
  finished product