Last Tuesday, during a concept-themed toddler storytime, my colleague and I took turns highlighting the early literacy skill, letter knowledge. Early literacy skills are pre-reading skills that help young children develop into strong readers. Letter knowledge, just like it sounds, is knowing that letters look different from each other and have different names and sounds. If you’re a young preschooler, that’s a lot to wrap your brain around! Fortunately, there a many great ways to help develop this early learning skill–things you might be doing already in your everyday play. For example, spelling out words with magnetic letters, drawing giant ABCs in the mud and singing the alphabet song are all fun, easy ways to bulk up your youngster’s letter knowledge.

Another exciting way to build letter knowledge is to check out the annual Alphabet Trail and Tales event this Saturday, September 10th from 10 AM to 1 PM. Take a walk in Frick Park while trying to spot and name the life size alphabet letters. Celebrate literacy by enjoying a variety of notable children’s books through interactive story sets, engaging storytellers, crafts, games, music and more! Partnering with local non-profit organizations and City of Pittsburgh Departments, as well as authors and artists, this Citiparks event hopes to inspire children (and their families) to become life-long readers. To learn more about the upcoming event, visit the Citiparks webpage.

Jessica is a Children’s Specialist at CLP – Squirrel Hill. An avid reader of all things Moomin, Jessica also enjoys beekeeping, biking and digging in the dirt.