Our Approach to Early Literacy
At Wild Nook, early literacy is not a checklist or a race. It’s a relationship with language that grows over time. Our approach is grounded in decades of child development and literacy research, which consistently shows that children thrive when early literacy is rooted in play, connection, and meaningful experiences.
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Rather than focusing on early reading benchmarks, we prioritize the skills that prepare children not just to read, but to understand and enjoy reading for years to come.
What Research Tells Us About Early Literacy
Research across early childhood education and reading science shows that strong readers are built on strong foundations. These foundations include:
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Oral language and vocabulary (listening, speaking, and rich conversation)
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Sound awareness (noticing and playing with the sounds in words)
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Story comprehension (understanding characters, events, and ideas)
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Print awareness (knowing that print carries meaning)
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Motivation and joy around books and learning
These skills are powerful predictors of later reading success, often more so than early decoding or memorizing words. Children who develop these foundations are better prepared for formal reading instruction when they are developmentally ready.
What Early Literacy Looks Like at Wild Nook
Early literacy at Wild Nook is woven naturally into our days through play, exploration, and connection.
You might see children:
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Listening to and retelling stories
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Singing songs and playing with rhymes
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Engaging in rich conversations with peers and teachers
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Exploring letters and sounds through games, art, and movement
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Dictating stories or ideas to an adult
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Discovering print in meaningful contexts (books, signs, labels, nature journals)
These experiences build language, confidence, and curiosity—without pressure or expectation.
Why We Don’t Rush Reading
Children develop reading skills on different timelines. Research shows that while some children read early, many others develop reading skills later—and both paths are normal and healthy.
When reading is rushed before a child is ready, it can:
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Increase stress or frustration
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Reduce motivation and enjoyment
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Shift focus away from comprehension and meaning
By honoring each child’s developmental readiness, we protect their love of learning and support long-term success.
Supporting the Whole Child
Early literacy does not develop in isolation. It grows alongside:
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Social-emotional development
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Self-regulation and attention
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Curiosity and creativity
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A sense of safety and belonging
At Wild Nook, we believe these capacities are not separate from learning—they are the foundation of it.
What This Means for Families
Choosing a preschool is a big decision, and it’s natural to wonder how your child will be prepared for kindergarten and beyond.
Our promise is this:
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Your child will be immersed in rich language and meaningful literacy experiences
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Your child’s development will be honored, not hurried
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Your child’s confidence, curiosity, and love of learning will be protected
Formal reading instruction will come in time. Our role is to ensure your child is ready for it—academically, socially, and emotionally.
Research & Professional Organizations We Align With
Our approach to early literacy is informed by decades of research in child development and early childhood education. We align closely with guidance from:
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NAEYC (National Association for the Education of Young Children), which emphasizes play-based, developmentally appropriate practice and identifies oral language, social-emotional development, and self-regulation as critical foundations for later academic success.
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The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), which highlights the importance of play, relationships, and language-rich experiences in early childhood development.
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Reading and literacy researchers, who consistently find that early language development, phonological awareness, and motivation to read are stronger predictors of long-term reading success than early decoding alone.
These organizations and researchers agree that young children benefit most when early literacy is grounded in meaningful experiences, responsive relationships, and respect for developmental readiness.
A Final Thought
We believe childhood is not something to rush through on the way to the next stage. By grounding early literacy in play, connection, and developmentally appropriate practice, we give children what they need most: a strong foundation for learning that lasts.