At BestStart Napier Central, we know that literacy begins long before children start reading and writing.
It starts with conversations, curiosity, and meaningful connections.
Every day, we create opportunities for our tamariki to build their language and communication skills through play. Whether it's sitting together to read a favourite story, talking during play, or sharing ideas with friends, every conversation helps grow their confidence and vocabulary.
One of the ways we support early literacy is through serve and return conversations. This simply means taking the time to listen, respond, and extend on what children are saying or showing us. When a child points to a picture, asks a question, or shares an idea, we respond with genuine interest.
These back-and-forth interactions help children learn new words, express their thoughts, and develop the communication skills they'll use throughout their lives. We've also been intentional about creating inviting literacy spaces throughout our centre.
Our art spaces encourage children to explore drawing, scribbling, and writing in ways that are meaningful to them. Whether they're creating a building, drawing their whānau, writing the first letter of their name, or simply experimenting with pencils and paper, every mark they make is an important step in their literacy journey.
You'll also notice resources around our learning environment that support early literacy development. Labels, books, picture cards, calendars, writing materials, and open-ended resources encourage children to recognise words, ask questions, and use language naturally during play. The photos below capture some of these everyday moments—moments where learning happens through laughter, conversations, imagination, and exploration.
These experiences may seem simple, but they lay the foundations for confident communicators, curious learners, and future readers and writers.
At BestStart Napier Central, we're proud to nurture a love of language from the very beginning because every conversation matters, every scribble has meaning, and every child deserves the opportunity to find their voice.