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Te Cuento un Cuento: Early Literacy Ideas from Argentina

10 tips for early literacy at home with young children who are blind or visually impaired. In Spanish and English. From Argentina.

Marcela Viviana Toscano, an early intervention specialist from the province of Buenos Aires in Argentina, created a powerpoint presentation about an early literacy project for families.  The presentation includes information about the importance of early literacy and ideas for incorporating it into daily routines.  Activities include early communication, making choices, and providing support and a workshop for families.

The presentation, which is in both English and Spanish, highlights some important points to remember in early literacy.

Leer en español.

1. Read to babies and young children!

A young boy reads to his brother.
A young boy reads to his brother.
  • Books help babies to learn to communicate with others.
  • Babies enjoy the time being close to family members and others during reading time.
  • Books help babies to learn about the world around them.

2. Create or adapt books for babies

Girl with duck
A young girl with a rubber duck
  • Books can be made of cloth, plastic, cardboard or heavy paper.
  • Books using real objects or three-dimensional materials that can be touched or that have moving parts are more interesting.
  • Images should be simple, familiar, and colorful.
  • There should be little or no text at first.
  • Use rhymes or playful language.

Parents and caregivers can promote literacy at home!

3. Give choices!

A young child is given choices
A young child is given choices of many board books in a plastic bin.

4.Encourage active exploration.

Boy with frog
A mother uses three-dimensional objects to illustrate the pictures in a book.

5. Use bookstands

or slant boards to bring books up at an angle where the child can see them more easily.

A young child uses a slant board.
A young child uses a slant board to look at a picture book that has textures added to each page.

6.  Provide a chance for children to practice writing, as well as reading.

For very young children, this means giving them the tools to “scribble” and explore.

Boy with braille writer

7.  Create books at home!

Cloth book about duck
Cloth book about duck

8.  Use objects as props to illustrate books.

Use objects to supplement book
A young girl examines a stuffed frog while holding a picture book of a frog on her lap.

9. Provide braille, as well as tactile illustrations.

Use braille and textures
A young child explores a book with tactile illustrations

10. Enjoy reading together!

A family reads together
A family reads together

Download the powerpoint presentation in Spanish or English.

Te Cuento un Cuento (Spanish Version)

I’ll Tell You a Story (English Version)


10 Ideas for Early Literacy

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