Before we learn how to read, we learn the shapes of the letters and their names. Reading is also about how to interpret the words and language, and of course the writing skills. Developing these takes a long time and plenty of practise. Starting early helps developing the love for reading and writing, and the years from birth to age 8 are the most important for it. Key to the language is first hearing it, and understanding the symbolic combination of pictures and letters with the spoken words. Stories, nursery rhymes and songs are great for forming the vocabulary and phonemic awareness, and understanding the structure of the words, sounds, and syllables. Playing with letters and alphabet helps in recognising them later, and sometimes it's easier to learn how to use them using computers and phone keyboards.
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