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3-4 Years: Weaving Worlds With Words

At this stage, your child uses her ever-increasing language skills to become a "big talker" and develops an awareness of the power of the written word. Parents and caregivers of preschoolers can help them develop into readers and writers by playing with letters and their sounds, promoting dramatic play using characters from books, and reading lots of books together.

Through his own daily experiences, your preschooler learns more and more about the way things work in the world and his place in it. At the same time, he is able to use his ever-increasing vocabulary and language skills to share his observations, ideas, and imaginary worlds with other children and adults. Young children can be entertaining storytellers, engaging conversational partners, and frustrating negotiators. During the preschool years, your child will become aware that the world is filled with letters and may begin to recognize familiar words.

You can help your preschooler become an eager reader and writer through simple conversations and reading together. It helps to plan regular times to read with your young child and talk together daily about things that interest him. You can turn everyday experiences such as waiting in lines, doing errands, and riding the bus into conversation starters. By talking about your child's ideas, observations, and feelings, you prepare your young child for reading and writing about the world.