The ZERO TO THREE Policy Center has released A Window to the World: Promoting Early Language and Literacy Development, a set of a new policy brief and video illustrating how early language and literacy development contributes to a child’s success throughout life, as part of its growing toolkit of early language and literacy tools, tips, and resources.
The policy brief highlights the importance of positive early language and literacy development, policy recommendations, and research showing that literacy emerges from early experiences, that both family interactions and early childhood professional play key roles in early literacy development, and that the language gap begins early.
The brief includes the five following recommendations for policies and legislation focused on literacy:
- Emphasize family engagement, particularly the role of parents in emergent literacy and the importance of reaching all at-risk infants and toddlers.
- Dedicate funding to support early language and literacy development in infants and toddlers, including professional development for early childhood professionals who care for infants and toddlers.
- Ensure that wording of literacy legislation for children birth through grade 12 reflects children’s needs across the entire age range.
- Build collaborations among birth to 3, prekindergarten, and K–12 programs to create shared responsibility for language and literacy development.
- Focus research funds on supporting early language and literacy for infants and toddlers.
The video explains the importance of investing in early language and literacy to our society and is intended to be viewed by policymakers, advocates, community partners, and others.
