During which stage of reading development should a child start forming basic understandings of syllable patterns?

The emergent stage of reading development is crucial as it lays the foundation for future reading skills. During this stage, which typically occurs from birth to around age 6, children begin to develop an understanding of the basic structures of language, including syllable patterns. At this point, they are exposed to verbal and visual elements of language, including phonemic awareness, which is the ability to hear and manipulate sounds in words.

Children in the emergent stage often engage with books and print in a playful and exploratory manner. They may start to recognize that words can be broken down into smaller units, such as syllables, which is a critical skill for later reading proficiency. Understanding syllable patterns helps them decode new words, enhance their spelling abilities, and develop overall phonological awareness. This foundational literacy skill leads to increased confidence and fluency as they progress into the subsequent stages of reading development, where more complex phonetic and linguistic concepts are learned.