Literacy, the ability to read and write, is a fundamental skill that begins developing in early childhood. During the preschool years, children acquire key precursors to reading and writing that lay the foundation for future academic success and lifelong learning. 

Red Flags in Literacy Development

Preschool and Kindergarten:

• Difficulty recognizing letters 
• Challenges manipulating sounds (e.g., participating in rhyming games)
• Resistance to reading-related activities 

Early Elementary:

• Guessing at unknown words or letters instead of decoding 
• Struggles with writing and spelling 
• Difficulty retelling stories or answering reading comprehension questions

Later Elementary and Beyond:

• Challenges understanding how root words, suffixes, and prefixes change word meanings
• Limited use of context clues to interpret complex vocabulary
• Reduced reading fluency

At One Speech Therapy, our licensed speech-language pathologists are dedicated to improving your child’s literacy skills. We focus on phonological awareness, decoding and encoding skills, reading comprehension, and executive functioning. Our therapy sessions incorporate a literacy-rich environment using engaging books, rhyming activities, and interactive games. These strategies are designed to build strong foundational skills in reading, writing, and spelling, setting the stage for long-term literacy success.