Early Literacy Foundations

Building strong foundations for literacy and developing a love of learning begins early.  Exposure to books and print can begin at birth, and parents' enthusiasm for reading is something children pick up at an early age.  The purpose of our ELF program is to provide parents with opportunity to explore different books that they can read and sign to their young children.  ELF offers a relaxed, accepting, and supportive atmosphere, with the intention of building the confidence and comfort level of all participants and creating a feeling of community and mutual support within the group.

• Parents are their children's first, best, and most consistent teachers. Parents have the experience, one-to-one time, love, and motivation to help their children learn that no one else in the world has.
• Children are parents' most effective teachers.  Parents will enjoy observing how their children respond to language-based play and activities.
• Parents are usually already doing many things to help their children learn.  However, parents may not understand the value of what they already know and do with their children.
• Bonding, communication and play are key components to the foundation for learning. Storytelling allows parents to learn the joy of ASL stories and see storytelling modeled well, and benefits children's language development.
• ASL provides children with a comfortable and natural language for deep, meaningful communication that opens doors for learning and development.

These beliefs are integral values that best benefit a family when started as early as possible and is continued consistently from birth, childhood, and beyond. 

ELF was created for parents with newly diagnosed deaf and hard of hearing children, but also welcomes deaf adults with hearing children, and parents with young children whose older children are deaf or hard of hearing. Early literacy is important for all: you need not be a DCS client to participate.

ELF operates in partnership with Services for Family and Community evelopment [SFCD], under the Provincial Services for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing [PSDHH] and the Ministry of Children and Family Development [MCFD].