Southwest Literacy Hub

Learning to write starts long before kids pick up a pencil ✏️✨ Here are 6 important pre-writing skills preschoolers need — and why play is the best way to build them.

👉 Link is in the first comment below!

🎶 Music plays a powerful role in early childhood development, far beyond just entertainment.

Singing, moving and listening to music help children build memory, language, coordination and listening skills. Music also supports emotional expression and social connection through shared experiences.

Here are some of the benefits of music in early childhood and why it’s such an important part of learning through play.

👉 Link is in the first comment below

🎶 Musical instruments give toddlers so much more than just a chance to make noise.

Shaking, tapping and banging instruments help young children build coordination, listening skills, rhythm and body awareness, while also encouraging creativity and confidence. Music naturally supports memory, attention and language development, especially when children are free to explore and experiment through play.

Here are some benefits of musical instruments for toddlers and simple ways to introduce them at home or in early years settings.

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Here’s a collection of 40 classic preschool songs 🎶✨ Loved for generations, these songs include lyrics and actions to make music time fun and engaging.

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Here are 21 of the best circle-time games for preschoolers and kindergarteners — great for winding down, building skills, or adding a brain break.

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🍎September is Here!🍏

We are bringing back some favorite programs and adding something new for families to enjoy.

🗓️Check out the calendar for details.

A salute to the incomparable Dolly Parton, whose passion for helping children discover the joy of reading lives on through Dolly Parton's Imagination Library. Families with children under 5 can register at imaginationlibrary.com and receive a free book by mail every month. What a legacy!

Thank you to the Hamilton County Council, The CenterPoint Energy Foundation, and Hamilton County Community Foundation for helping make this program possible for Hamilton County families.

Play isn't just fun—it’s foundational.

Through play, children learn to share, cooperate, communicate, resolve conflicts, and build empathy. It’s how they develop the social and emotional skills they'll carry into every relationship throughout life.

This article explores how simple play shapes confident, compassionate, socially aware kids. 👧🧒

👉 Link is in the first comment below

🧩 Puzzles are one of those quiet little power tools in early childhood.

They might look simple, but they support problem-solving, fine motor skills, visual perception and patience — all through play. For toddlers, puzzles don’t need to be complicated to be effective. K**b puzzles, inset puzzles or simple matching puzzles all give children space to think, try and figure things out at their own pace.

I’ve shared practical tips for choosing puzzles for toddlers, with ideas that work well at home and in early years settings.

👉 Link is in the first comment below

“If you can understand them, that’s all that matters” can be a comforting thought, but it can also miss how hard talking may feel for a child outside the family.

Some children leave sounds out, swap sounds, add extra sounds or use simpler versions of words. They may be easy to understand at home, yet struggle to be understood by friends, teachers or unfamiliar adults. Longer words, busy classrooms and being asked to speak in front of others can feel especially tough.

This is not about blaming a child or making them repeat themselves until they are upset. Speech sound difficulties can be frustrating, and being corrected over and over can knock confidence.

Small things can help. Listen without rushing. Give them time to finish. Repeat the word back correctly in a natural way, without asking them to copy you. Praise what they are saying, not just how clearly they say it. And if their speech seems much less clear than other children their age, is not improving over time, or is affecting friendships, learning or confidence, it is okay to ask for speech and language therapy advice.

Every child deserves to feel heard.

FREE SPEECH SOUND DISORDER PRINTABLE PARENT INFORMATION

LIKE the photo and comment "SPEECH" and we will send you a message with a link to a free PDF of this resource.