REDDAM EARLY LEARNING SCHOOL WOOLLAHRA NEWSLETTER
Dee’s Message Dear Parents and Caregivers, “The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.” We can probably all recognise the familiar style of Dr Seuss, the storyteller whose playful words have inspired children throughout the world for so many years. Perhaps we can think back to our own childhoods of a Dr Seuss story which captured our imaginations. Yet the simplicity of his words belies a great wisdom in his stories. This particular quote reminds us of the importance of exposing young children to reading as early as possible. It reminds us of the power of reading: more reading leads to greater knowledge, which in turn opens the doors to an exciting life of opportunities. This surely is what we all hope for as we dream of a wonderful future for our children. It is a reminder too of the importance of celebrating books, stories and words, just as we did during Book Week. Apart from the obvious joy inherent in stories, there is the added benefit of growing each child’s
26 August 2022 vocabulary. The more extensive a child’s vocabulary, the more effectively he or she is able to communicate. While that communication might initially be limited to the spoken and heard word, it is not long before it transfers itself to the read and written too. Recent research published in the Early Education and Development journal in the United States found that children with stronger vocabulary skills displayed more positive engagement with their teachers and peers. Researchers pointed out that “a small change in children’s skills and experiences” early on can “improve or impair” their chance of academic success long-term. We can probably all attest to the fact that children love playing with words. There are those special moments when a word seems to catch the imagination of a child and all we hear for days on end is that word being repeated.
REDDAM EARLY LEARNING SCHOOL | WOOLLAHRA NEWSLETTER
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