Language and Literacy Support...
About more than 'reading books'

Children cared for by family child care provider Edith Martin benefit from daily literacy activities, like dramatic play (above), encouraged by 4C literacy specialists.

4C specialists have made more than half of the 10 visits scheduled for each of the 22 family child care providers participating in 4C’s Language and Literacy Support Program. Each visit is eagerly anticipated, says Annetta Rutland, director of family child care services, and one of the program’s home visitors.

“I was five minutes late one day because of traffic, and the provider and all of the children were waiting for me on the porch,” she reports.

The goal of this year-long project, made possible by a grant from United Way Success By 6™, is to increase kindergarten readiness by increasing language and literacy activities in family child care settings. 4C specialists bring a different language and literacy kit on each one-hour visit. The curriculum for these visits and kits was developed by an expert in the field who also provides training to 4C staff. Training includes how to effectively demonstrate the specific activities targeted for each visit and how to coach providers on incorporating these activities into the daily program of the family child care home.

“Activities during a visit might involve reading aloud, rhyming, singing or dramatic play,” says Dawn Hoskins, one of the 4C literacy specialists. “Literacy development involves more than just reading a book.”

Handouts are left with the provider after each visit outlining ways to implement what was demonstrated. Topics include “Reading Aloud: Why It’s Important—and How to Do It,” “Linking Literacy and Play,” “Reading Environmental Print,” “Songs and Finger Plays” and more.

Participants in this year-long program are family child care providers located in Cincinnati’s Avondale and Price Hill neighborhoods who are also enrolled in the Child and Adult Care Food Program. 4C is working to secure private funding to expand this program next year, says Karen Hurley, director of development.

“We’ve really enjoyed working with the family child care providers and interacting with all the children,” says 4C’s Annetta Rutland. “We hope they continue to use these ideas and activities because they can really make a difference for children.”

This article appeared originally in the Summer 2009 issue of Pathways to Quality, 4C's newletter for early childhood professionals.