Here at New Shoots, we take pride and joy in supporting your tamariki in the development of skills that precede formal literacy—reading and writing. This nurturing of early literacy lays the foundation, so that tamariki can unlock the reading code and have the physical skills for writing once they are developmentally ready.

What are the foundations of Early Literacy?

Oral Literacy

This is how we verbally communicate to express and share knowledge, thinking and feelings. The components of oral language are vocabulary, listening and comprehension, fluency or narrative skills, and grammar and syntax—how words are arranged in a sentence to form meaning.

Physical Development

When it comes to tamariki learning how to read and write, physical development is crucial. This includes fine motor development, gross motor development, and hand-eye coordination, building the neural pathways between the brain and body.

Exploring Print Meaning and Phonics

Fostering an environment where print is visible and meaningful in everyday life encourages awareness and curiosity about learning language. Whether it’s reading road signs on a walk, labelling objects around the house, or writing shopping lists together, these small moments build the foundation for confident readers and writers. The journey of early literacy isn’t just about mastering skills—it’s about sparking a lifelong love for language and learning.

Supporting the development of Early Literacy

Play is not optional, play is critical!

• Tamariki develop language through meaningful social interactions. Social play requires coordinated activity in the regions of social, emotional, physical and thinking processing which support neural pathway development.
• Physical movement further fosters neural pathways, and primes the brain for learning. Physical play helps build physical literacy and strengthens links between movement of the body and the thinking brain, supporting critical thinking, problem solving and creativity.
• Physical play also supports physical development of fine and gross motor skills. For example, playing with resources like playdough strengthens fine motor skills, balls develop hand-eye co-ordination and play areas like sandpits and playground equipment strengthen gross motor skills and co-ordination.

Developing early literacy is an excercise in creative, connected fun!

• Engaging in conversations during routine activities and on topics that are relevant to tamariki can further help develop dialogue and communication skills, including listening, responding, and thinking.
• Reading books together not only develops a love of reading, but also enriches enriches vocabulary, dialogue and comprehension. This activity increases concentration skills, develops comprehension, and introduces complex sentence structures. Research indicates that reading five books per day can increase a tamaiti’s vocabulary by up to one million words (a phenomenon known as the “million-word gap”) by age five, supporting your tamariki in unlocking the code for learning to read at school.
• Music and rhyme truly amplify the joy and connection in language learning. Sharing songs and rhymes with tamariki isn’t just fun—it’s a powerful way to foster language development. When a tamaiti sings along, claps to rhythms, or repeats playful verses, they’re not only building vocabulary and memory, but also tuning into the patterns and sounds of language. This playful approach helps tamariki become more confident communicators, laying down strong foundations for reading and writing later on.

Developing Early Literacy at New Shoots

At New Shoots we support tamariki’s development through talking, singing, reading and playing.

Our centres develop Individual Learning Plans (ILP) for each tamaiti based on their interests and observations of what they are seeking to understand or learn about—nicknamed their ‘golden thread’. Kaiako respond to these observations and plans by through intentional provocations and experiences.

But the kaiako don’t stop there. Our kaiako intentionally weave the early literacy foundation skills into play, experiences, interactions and provocations.

Groups times are rich with stories, songs, and word and letter play. Playful experiences like pointing out words in favourite stories or playing games with letters and sounds nurture motivation and make learning feel like a joyful adventure.

Favourite books are turned into small world scenes, encouraging tamariki to retell the story. This builds narrative, sequencing, syntax and vocabulary skills, as well as imagination and creativity. Our Book of the Month creates excitement for both tamariki and kaiako throughout the year.

During play interactions, kaiako intentionally prompt tamariki’s thinking and enrich their language by introducing new and interesting words.

This isn’t just about adding vocabulary—it’s about sparking curiosity and expanding the way tamariki understand and communicate about their world. With each playful conversation or well-timed question, kaiako provide opportunities for deeper thinking and more complex dialogue.

These enriching moments help tamariki make connections between experiences, strengthen their comprehension, and build a love for language. Whether it’s describing the texture of playdough, talking about the adventures of a favourite story character, or exploring the sounds in a silly rhyme, these intentional interactions create a foundation for confident, expressive learners.

During care moments with infants, kaiako ‘give voice’ to the ritual, sing songs or engage in a ritual game meaningful to the tamaiti. These tender exchanges are much more than routine—they’re opportunities to nurture early language, connection, and a sense of belonging. When kaiako narrate what’s happening, share gentle songs, or invent simple games that reflect each tamaiti’s interests, they’re creating an environment rich in language and emotional warmth.

Kaiako are experts in finding moments to weave early literacy foundation skills into play.

Developing Early Literacy at New Shoots

• Chat with your tamaiti—talking with your tamaiti helps develop their language skills and cognitive abilities. Explore the richness of language by adding new words. Face-to-face connections are vital in today’s digital age.
• Enjoy time reading together—books offer a more complex structure and vocabulary that differs from typical conversations.
• Singing together is delightful tool for growing your tamaiti’s language skills—singing and rhyming adds vocabulary and often highlights phonetical sounds.
• Provide lots of opportunity for physical experiences—whether in the yard or playground, helping with household tasks, drawing or manipulating toys.

One of the magical moments is when tamariki begin to realise that the squiggles and shapes on a page (letters and words) are more than just marks: they hold meaning. This awareness is a cornerstone for future reading success. When tamariki understand that print communicates ideas, stories, and information, their curiosity is sparked, motivating them to crack the reading code and further develop their love of language learning.

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Your Partner in Play

Your child’s teacher is always happy to discuss what your child is exploring at home and during centre life. Together, we can celebrate the magic of learning through play.

Written by Karyn Charles – National Curriculum Lead at New Shoots Children’s Centres

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