What is emergent literacy?

Emergent literacy refers to the skills, knowledge, and attitudes that precede formal reading and writing. It encompasses a child's understanding of how print works, their awareness of letters and words, and their initial experiences with written language. This concept highlights the early stages of literacy development, where children begin to recognize that print carries meaning and that text can be interactive.

Understanding print concepts is essential, as it lays the groundwork for future reading and writing abilities. Recognizing letters, understanding directionality (left to right), and the distinction between pictures and words are critical components of emergent literacy. This foundation is what enables children to transition into more conventional forms of reading and writing as they progress in their education.

In contrast, the other options focus on specific aspects of literacy that do not encapsulate its emergent nature. While a child’s ability to read, formal education in literacy, and vocabulary development are certainly important facets of literacy as a whole, they are not the primary focus of emergent literacy, which is centered around the initial understandings and interactions with print that occur before formal instruction.