What skill is highlighted in a child during the emergent pre-reader stage?

During the emergent pre-reader stage, a key skill is recognizing letters of the alphabet. This foundational skill is crucial as it sets the groundwork for children to begin decoding words and understanding the relationship between letters and sounds. At this developmental stage, children are typically being introduced to the idea that letters represent sounds and can form words, which is essential for their future reading abilities.

Recognition of letters involves not only identifying the shapes of letters but also understanding how they function within the alphabet and in words. This skill is often fostered through activities such as letter games, singing the alphabet song, and engaging with books that emphasize letter recognition. By developing letter recognition, children are building their literacy skills, which will support their progression to more complex literacy tasks in the future.