Foundational Literacy and Numeracy activities play a vital role in early childhood education and have great impacts on a child’s cognitive development, academic success, and overall well-being. These activities lay the building blocks for future learning and are essential for children to develop strong academic skills.

• Reading Aloud: Reading aloud to young children exposes them to language, vocabulary, and storytelling. It also aids them in developing their listening skills, imagination, and understanding of narrative structures.

• Phonics Instruction: Teaching children phonics! Believe it or not—the relationship between sounds and letters—is paramount for learning to read. Phonics instruction helps children decode words, remember spelling patterns, and enhance their reading fluency.

• Sight Words Recognition: Sight words are basic words that children should recognise instantlyin seconds without needinghaving to decode them. Activities focusedemphasised on sight word recognition help develop a child’s reading fluency andas well as comprehension.

• Writing Activities: Motivating children to engage in writing activities like journaling, creative writing, and letter formation helps develop their fine motor skills, spelling, and understanding of written language conventions.

• Basic Operations Practice: Introducing basic mathematical operations such as addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division via hands-on activities with games to support children in building computational fluency and problem-solving skills.

The impacts of Foundational Literacy and Numeracy activities are long-lasting and dynamic. Children who receive solid foundational instruction in the listed areas are more likely to excel academically, exhibit higher self-esteem, and develop a lifelong passion for learning. Additionally, early intervention in literacy and numeracy can prevent future academic difficulties and inspire children to fully realise their potential.