Play and Literacy

Classroom studies have shown that young children exhibit an impressive amount of literacy knowledge when in sociocultural classrooms. Children can help each other expand on language from previous experience. Play is a particular symbol system that is beneficial to the development of literacy in young children. Play allows children to construct and express their knowledge. When children engage in dramatic play they have opportunities to expand their language. During play if children are exposed to familiar literary objects that are reflective of their lives and cultures, they are more prone to further develop their literacy knowledge. The set-up of the play environment and what types of props the teacher offers the children influence the social interactions and time the children spend playing together. When children play, talk, and reason together they share knowledge about their language. This shows how literacy learning in schools helps to further extend literacy development.