Why Early Literacy Matters at Manthan Noida

27th October 2025 The Manthan School

We all want the best for our children. We wish to see them happy, confident, and ready to take on the world. But do you know what is one of the most powerful ways to set them up for success? Early literacy!

At The Manthan School, we believe early literacy is about more than just learning to read. It’s about helping young children build a strong foundation of language, vocabulary, self-expression, and a lifelong love for books and learning starting from the very beginning.

Early literacy is everything a child knows about reading and writing before they actually learn to read or write. It includes:

Knowing words and what they mean
Recognizing sounds and letters
Expressing thoughts through speech
Developing a love for stories

These early skills help children walk into kindergarten feeling confident and excited to learn.

Why Start Early?

Here’s a powerful fact:
80% of a child’s brain development happens in the first three years.

By age 2, a child’s brain is already as active as an adult’s.
By age 3, it’s twice as active!
This is a critical window for learning and the best time to build those early literacy skills.

If a child isn’t being spoken to, read to, or exposed to new words and ideas during this time, it becomes much harder for them to catch up later even in a great classroom environment.

Let’s look at what the research tells us:

Vocabulary by age 3 can predict reading success by third grade.
Reading aloud is the single most important activity for early literacy development.
Children whose parents (especially mothers) frequently talk to them as babies learn 300 more words by age 2 than those who aren’t spoken to often.
80% of brain development happens by age 3.

The Reality for Some Children

Unfortunately, not all children have the same start in life. Families facing financial struggles often don’t have access to books, time to read aloud, or the kind of early learning experiences that build literacy.

Some important (and troubling) facts:

61% of low-income families have no children’s books at home.
37% of children arrive at kindergarten without the skills they need for lifelong learning.
50% of children in underserved communities start first grade up to two years behind their peers.

Where a child starts shouldn’t decide where they end up but for many, it does. Kids who fall behind early in reading often stay behind in later grades, making school harder and less enjoyable.

The Long-Term Cost of Low Literacy

Reading books is only one aspect of literacy. Literacy affects everything from school success, job opportunities, confidence, to even income later in life.

Those students who don’t complete high school are more likely to face unemployment and earn lower salaries. They may also find it harder to get into any college or technical programs.

This cycle can repeat itself, especially in families and communities where access to early literacy resources is limited.

What We Do at The Manthan School

At The Manthan School, we take early literacy seriously and joyfully! Our classrooms are filled with:

Story time and read-alouds every day
Songs, rhymes, and playful language activities
Books that children can explore freely
Conversation-rich environments where teachers talk with children
Opportunities to draw, write, and express ideas

We know that reading doesn’t just happen overnight. It starts from the very first day through listening, speaking, playing, and connecting.

How You Can Help at Home

You don’t need any kind of special tools or props or even a teaching degree to support your child’s early literacy. You can help them at home by doing the following:

Talk with your child, for example, during meals, walking, or bedtime.
Each day, read aloud to your child, even if that’s just for 10 minutes.
Sing songs and rhymes to your child.
Let them draw, scribble, and pretend

Because every word they hear and every story they enjoy brings them one step closer to becoming a strong, happy reader.

Final Thoughts

At The Manthan School, a leading CBSE school in Noida, we believe that every child should have the opportunity to succeed and early literacy is a key part of that journey. We are creating strong futures when we create strong readers.

Let’s work together to give every child the power of words, stories, and the joy of learning.