What is a key characteristic of emergent literacy?

A key characteristic of emergent literacy is that it encompasses the understanding that print carries meaning. This concept is foundational for young children as they begin to interact with written language. It reveals their ability to recognize that symbols—such as letters and words—represent ideas and information that can be conveyed through writing.

Emergent literacy involves skills and knowledge related to reading and writing that develop before formal reading instruction begins. When children grasp that print has meaning, they start to connect their spoken language to written forms, which supports their development as readers and writers later on.

In contrast, the ability to write complete sentences, advanced vocabulary usage, and fluency in reading are skills that typically develop at later stages of literacy acquisition, as children progress from emerging literacy to becoming proficient readers and writers. These latter skills reflect a more advanced understanding of language and literacy rather than the foundational awareness that print has meaning.