By Stephanie Lord-Darby

When we hear the term pre-literacy, our minds tend to jump straight to the ‘literacy’ part. We assume this must be the formal introduction to reading, writing, and our first relationship with the alphabet.

But it is the pre we should be thinking about.

Derived from the Latin prae, it simply means ‘before’. So the real question becomes: What do we do before literacy? Before the alphabet charts, the phonics flashcards, and the early spelling games?

More specifically: What should we be doing to make the actual process of reading and writing more successful?

The answer, although it breaks down into a large list involving oral language skills, fine motor skills, visual perception, social and emotional understanding and many more neuroscience and educational aspects, is that we can simply start with connection, conversation, and play.

These foundational experiences are also central to the early childhood development approach used in GymbaROO programs, where learning through play supports children’s development long before formal schooling begins.

Interested in GymbaROO-KindyROO’s? Find your closest centre.

Why the ‘pre’ matters more than you think

Emma Ellsmore, founder and director of Leap Street, classes and playgroup that focus on pre-literacy skills for school readiness, shares how their 4-Year-Old School Readiness Program focuses not on rigid milestones, but on foundational skills. They ask: Is the child visually tracking words and pictures on the page? Are their fine motor skills developing? Can they engage in a curious conversation about a story?

These are the true building blocks.

Around the world, different education systems tackle pre-literacy in fascinating ways. In Japan, the national curriculum doesn’t formally introduce a pencil until age seven; instead, children build fine motor skills through play-based games. The Steiner approach uses finger knitting, yes, knitting with fingers, as a pre-writing tool. And occupational therapists regularly use visual tracking games with kindergarteners, establishing the essential eye-movement skills needed before reading can take off.

So, what should you be doing at home?

Let’s tighten it to three pillars.

Connection

Before a child can read a story, they need to understand how a story works. That it has a beginning, middle, and end; that characters have feelings; and that print carries meaning. This is fostered when we read aloud, not to teach decoding, but to share the joy of the narrative. Ask questions like, “What do you think happens next?” or “Why is that character sad?” These moments build emotional intelligence and story comprehension simultaneously, both important aspects of child development and school readiness.

Conversation

Before a child can read words, they need a deep reservoir of heard words. Research consistently shows that the number of words a child hears in their first five years is directly correlated to later reading success. Narrate your day, ask open-ended questions, and engage in back-and-forth dialogue. You are building neural pathways for comprehension and teaching that language has rhythm, structure, and meaning.

Play

Before a child can write, they need the fine motor strength to hold a pencil and the spatial awareness to track left to right. This isn’t built with worksheets; it’s built with playdough, finger painting, threading beads, and climbing on the playground, gripping the overhead ladder and completing action rhymes like Incy Wincy Spider. Strong core and hand muscles are the unsung heroes of neat handwriting. This type of movement-based learning is a key part of how GymbaROO supports children’s physical development and pre-literacy skills through play.

Pre-literacy isn’t about racing toward the milestone of reading. It is about savouring the ‘before’, laying a foundation so deep and wide that when your child is ready to read and write, it feels less like a struggle and more like a homecoming.

Let’s celebrate the power of connection, conversation, and play.

If this is an area that particularly interests you, one of our favourites is The Whole Child by Stacy Benge.

Looking for ways to support your child’s pre-literacy skills through movement, play and connection? GymbaROO-KindyROO’s age-appropriate programs help build the foundations for learning, school readiness and lifelong development. Find your closest centre.