Back to the Basics: Growing Early Literacy Through the Senses

Long before screens, children's brains developed in rhythm with the environment. Reading readiness was rooted in sensory experiences–in open fields, shared kitchens, winding trails, and storytelling circles. Children listened to fireside tales, named plants on walks, clapped along to community chants, and followed recipes with elders. These rituals laid the groundwork for language through repetition, movement, and rhythm, which supported the development of brain networks essential for learning to read