Critical Literacy in Early Childhood

What is Critical literacy?

Generally, people think about literacy as the ability to read and write text (Luke, 2012) to convey meaning. 
As an extension to the idea of literacy as mere text-based communication, we think that methods of communication may be influenced by societal and cultural practices. 
For example; road signs, emojis, messenger chats, magazines and drawings are all literacy methods as they convey meaning (Kalantzis & Cope, 2012. cited in Arthur, et al. 2014).

‘Critical literacy explains that communications/ texts are not neutral. Rather, they present particular worldviews and are designed to encourage us to take up particular conversations, ideas and identities or to buy particular products’ (Arthur, et al. 2014).

Communication/texts hold a certain position, for example, if you fill out a form online, email a colleague or watch an advert for shampoo, the communication may be informational, or persuasive.

If we think about those situations with critical literacy, we try to assess who has the power in the communication, what is their intention with their use of the text? What is the position of the writer? Is a person or group of people left out? If they are, why? (UBC Okanagang, 2018)

Why critical literacy?

Why do we encourage its use in the classroom and at home?

Critical literacy focuses on social justice, equality, and active representation analysis through literary mediums (UBC Okanagang, 2018).

We want to encourage children to develop the skills to recognise the position of text and its relationship to themselves( Luke, 2012), promote independent thinking and critically see more than their point of view (Gilbert, R., et al, 2019).

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Arthur, L., Ashton, J., & Beecher, (2014).Diverse literacies in early childhood: A social justice approach. ACER Press.

Centre for the Study of Social Global Justice. (2007). Critical literacy : theories and practices. Centre for the Study of Social and Global Justice.

Gilbert, R., et al (2019). Teaching Humanities & Social Sciences. Cengage. 

 Luke, A. (2012). Critical Literacy: Foundational Notes. Theory into Practice. p. 4–11. https://doi.org/10.1080/00405841.2012.636324

UBC Okanagan. (Aug 2, 2018). Critical Literacy: Children as Changemakers in their Worlds[Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yuamzeQX6c4

 (2021). [Road sign]. Wired. https://www.wired.com/2015/10/the-little-known-story-behind-britains-road-signs/

Advantages & Disadvantages

The benefits of critical literacy

Critical literacy is defined as a social practice where texts can be built and rebuilt with various meanings and information. Children compare the text being read or discussed during communicating time with the versions of the text they had at home, showing the beginnings of critical literacy. Therefore, critical literacy is an essential component of literacy from the early years.

(DIBS for kids: Bringing back the book, n.d.)

• Critical literacy can encourage children to discuss issues about gender, race, class, power, religion, society and culture that are represented in daily texts children listen to and read (Comber, 2003). In other words, new images, new stories, new methods of presenting that reflect widespread possibilities with increased inclusion and fairness (Ashton et al., 2014, pp.83-104). 
• Critical literacy consists of analysing dominant femininities and masculinities and the ways these hegemonic perspectives impact children’s behaviour and the decisions that they make in everyday life.
• Critical literacy practices support children to engage in resistant readings to promote social justice.

As a consequence, critical literacy plays a crucial role in children’s early age.

The key issues surrounding critical literacy

On the other hand, some educators and families believe that critical literacy is not for young children. Critical literacy is still rarely used in early childhood classrooms, even though this approach can bring many benefits for children, such as decoding a text and critical thinking about what they read (Kuby, 2013).

(Family group newsletter: Spring 2021 edition, n.d.)

• 'Critical' is too complicated and too political for children.

• Sensitively and proactively initiating critical literacy investigations          

• Some families are unwilling to make their children engage with issues surrounding gender, class, violence, sexuality, etc.

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Ashton, J., Arthur, L., & Beecher, B. (2014). Diverse Literacies in Early Childhood: a social justice approach. ACER Press.

Comber, B. (2003). Critical literacy: Power and pleasure with language in the early years. The Australian Journal of Language and Literacy. 24 (3), 168-181. 

DIBS for kids: Bringing back the book [photograph]. (n.d.). Delivering infinite book shelves. https://dibsforkids.wordpress.com/2018/08/29/dibs-for-kids-bringing-back-the-book/

Family group newsletter: Spring 2021 edition [photograph]. (n.d.). Stives chambers. https://www.stiveschambers.co.uk/family-group-newsletter-spring-2021-edition/

Jones-Diaz, C., Beecher, B., & Arthur, L., (2007). Children’s worlds: globalisation and critical literacy. In Makin, L., Jones-Diaz, C., & McLachlan, Claire. (2007). Literacies in childhood: Changing views, challenging practice (2nd ed.). Marrickville, N.S.W.: Elsevier Australia.

Kuby, C. (2013). Critical literacy in the early childhood classroom: Unpacking histories, unlearning privilege. Teachers College Press.

How can families work with us?

https://www.parents.com/health/parents-news-now/new-study-reveals-reading-aloud-to-kids-does-matter/

Our families can use our service and the information we provide to enable parents and families with the appropriate guidance needed in

order for them to provide their children with the opportunity to engage in critical literacy.

Providing children with the right resources will allow children to critique information within the text and be able to question or

challenge the ideas within the text (Arthur et al., 2014).

Children can engage with a wide range of literacy sources such as books, television shows, movies and many more sources.

These resources can allow children to see how our everyday practices are displayed or distorted within these texts such as race, gender, socio-economic status, disabilities and culture (Kuby, 2013).

It is essential that from an early age that children can engage in critical literacy as this can provide children with the tools to create their own understandings of the world.

 Examples our families can use and how to engage children in critical literacy:

• Engaging in our multimodal world 
• Showing children that they exist in our world 
• Allowing children to be exposed to a wide range of texts that show diversity
• Provide children with the opportunity to question ideas and be able to reconstruct their own ideas 

Possible questions you can ask children:

• What makes you angry? What does it feel like to be angry?
• What do you think culture means?
• Do you think that some cultures in our community are discriminated against? (This question can also be further extended and be reflected upon)
• How can we change our community to welcome everyone? 

1. https://www.google.com/search?q=when+i+am+angry&rlz=1C5CHFA_enAU735AU735&sxsrf=ALeKk01zXUtCD28kObgn4fW47jjAAQmQeQ:1629242801074&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjjpaSzmrnyAhXtwzgGHVo1Du4Q_AUoAXoECAEQAw&biw=1253&bih=733#imgrc=qtrzxkD0Wj5C1M

2. https://www.google.com/search?q=hair+love&tbm=isch&ved=2ahUKEwjvxPSzmrnyAhWakksFHcs1DpUQ2-cCegQIABAA&oq=hair+love&gs_lcp=CgNpbWcQAzIFCAAQgAQyBQgAEIAEMgUIABCABDIFCAAQgAQyBQgAEIAEMgUIABCABDIFCAAQgAQyBQgAEIAEMgUIABCABDIFCAAQgAQ6BwgjEOoCECc6BAgjECc6BAgAEEM6CAgAEIAEELEDOgcIABCxAxBDOgsIABCABBCxAxCDAVDmpQJY1LYCYKi-AmgBcAB4AIABhAKIAaYNkgEFMC42LjOYAQCgAQGqAQtnd3Mtd2l6LWltZ7ABCsABAQ&sclient=img&ei=skUcYe-jF5qlrtoPy-u4qAk&bih=733&biw=1253&rlz=1C5CHFA_enAU735AU735#imgrc=8AslvNN54v3lMM

3. https://www.google.com/search?q=all+are+welcome&tbm=isch&ved=2ahUKEwiNqJ3ImrnyAhVVYisKHVmKCXkQ2-cCegQIABAA&oq=all+are+wel&gs_lcp=CgNpbWcQARgAMgUIABCABDIFCAAQgAQyBQgAEIAEMgUIABCABDIFCAAQgAQyBQgAEIAEMgUIABCABDIFCAAQgAQyBQgAEIAEMgUIABCABDoHCCMQ6gIQJzoECCMQJzoECAAQQzoICAAQsQMQgwE6CAgAEIAEELEDOgoIABCxAxCDARBDOgsIABCABBCxAxCDAToHCAAQsQMQQ1DsrAFYzroBYIXEAWgBcAB4AIABiQKIAZUSkgEFMC40LjeYAQCgAQGqAQtnd3Mtd2l6LWltZ7ABCsABAQ&sclient=img&ei=3EUcYY3KPNXErQHZlKbIBw&bih=733&biw=1253&rlz=1C5CHFA_enAU735AU735

Resources that can be used for critical literacy:

- Books 

- Television shows 

- Movies 

- Music 

And many more! 

Book week display at preschool 

Little J and Big Cuz: explores Indigenous culture and traditions 

https://www.sbs.com.au/nitv/article/2017/04/03/new-tv-series-little-j-big-cuz-explores-indigenous-culture-country-and-language

How does critical literacy link to Early Childhood Education?

As children are exposed to different texts in our multimodal world, they are exposed to the different ways in which their parents, family and community communicate with each other. As children develop their critical literacy skills, children are able to express their ideas and feelings and be able to question ideas in texts. This can be linked to the Early Years Learning Framework for Australia (EYLF) outcome 5 "Children are effective communicators",  as critical literacy can enable children to develop the confidence to express their own ideas and feelings. Critical literacy can also be linked to outcome 5.2, as children can be given a variation of texts and be able to analyse them to unpack other meanings and question social structures and discourses that children are exposed to within our society. 

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Arthur, L., Beecher, B. & Diaz, C. (2014). Utilising popualr culture to extend children's literacy . In L. A. Arthur, Diverse Literacies in early childhood: A social justice approach. (pp. 55-68). ACER.

Kuby, C. (2013). Critical literacy in the early childhood classroom: Unpacking histories, unlearning privilege. Teachers College Press.

Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR). (2009). Belonging, being and becoming: An early years learning framework for Australia.

Strategies for Families to use at home

As indicated by Kearns (2017), Vygotsky's theory of cognitive development stresses that learning is influenced and shaped by its sociocultural context. Wood, 2002 (as cited in Dunst et al. 2013) extended Vygotsky's sociocultural theory that home and community environments of young children are important sources of learning opportunities for acquiring literacy and language abilities.
We have a powerful role in shaping children's understandings of gender norms, power and respect.

We can:

Read aloud with children

• Reading bedtime stories increases ability in visual processing and imagination (Schwarz, n.d.).

• Mastery of language skills as books use a greater diversity of words than just everyday vocabulary (Reade, n.d.).

• Opens conversations about whose voices are silenced and disadvantaged.

Label objects in your home and hangs different kinds of print around your house.

• This can show the importance of language, reading, and writing (Reade, n.d.).

• Help your child build background knowledge on a topic (Reade, n.d.).

Use popular culture to encourage children to engage in critical literacy (Arthur et al., 2014).

• Children relate to topics that are relevant to them.
• The use of popular culture stimulates discussion on unconscious bias in society.
• Drawing into children's interest in popular culture by asking questions allows them to draw perspectives which builds their confidence and identity.

Talk with your children

• 
  Talk about your day, their day, their friends, things they like, what they want to do, their ideas.
• By simply talking to your children you allow them to connect and unfold issues on gender norms, race and respect in everyday conversations and every practice.
• Discuss what you watch together on TV or the iPad, what they watch on their own.

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Ashton, J., Arthur, L., & Beecher, B. (2014).  Diverse literacy pathways. In J. Arthur., J. Ashton, & B. Beecher. (Eds.), Diverse literacies in early childhood: A social justice approach. 25-36. ACER Press.

Brewster, W. (2021, August 23). The Wiggles add four new culturally diverse band members. [Photograph]. Radio Today. https://themusicnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/the-wiggles-8.jpg

CK Public Health. (n.d.). Talking with kids about COVID-19. [Photograph]. CK Public Health. https://ckphu.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/family-talking-3-scaled.jpg

Colvin, N. (2020, January 10). Strategies for parents to support their children’s reading. Readilearn. https://www.readilearn.com.au/strategies-for-parents-to-support-their-childrens-reading/

DesignsByMiffy. (n.d.). Custom labels decals iron-on transfers. [Photograph]. Etsy. https://i.etsystatic.com/16622460/d/il/d097a5/2419289036/il_340x270.2419289036_sucm.jpg?version=0

Dunst, C., Valentine, A., Raab, M., and Hamby, D. (2013). Relationship between child participation in everyday activities and early literacy and language development. CELL Reviews. 6(1). Center for Early Literacy Learning. http://www.earlyliteracylearning.org/cellreviews/CELLreviews_v6_n1.pdf

Kearns, K. (2017). Introduction to child development. In Birth to big school. (pp. 1-63). Cengage.

Purpose Communications. (n.d.). Digital mentorship - how to safely prepare your children for a screen-based world. [Photograph]. BusyMoms. Purpose Communications. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/57ff028437c581fd6644644a/1521421023724-F8MDT7SNDDBWG7YNL302/ke17ZwdGBToddI8pDm48kLoJGYlVoiE7gPOnwrm5yUh7gQa3H78H3Y0txjaiv_0fDoOvxcdMmMKkDsyUqMSsMWxHk725yiiHCCLfrh8O1z5QPOohDIaIeljMHgDF5CVlOqpeNLcJ80NK65_fV7S1UfpUUgLaG6hbAxxLztyrGCfE1bN56N04lPNZ9LdwD1uBtfYk0dVZayboTAeqjnjomg/o-KIDS-IPAD-facebook.jpg?format=2500w

Reade, A. (2017). Supporting your child’s literacy development at home. National centre of improving literacy. https://improvingliteracy.org/brief/supporting-your-childs-literacy-development-home

Schwarz, K. (n.d.). Why bedtime stories are so important. News life media. https://www.kidspot.com.au/features/v3/nd-393/why-bedtime-stories-are-so-important/

SGVTrending. (n.d.). The more that you read the more things you will know the more that you learn the more places you'll go, dr seuss svg, dr seuss quotes, digital file. [Clip art]. SGVTrending. https://i.pinimg.com/originals/21/1b/31/211b317092e1d913816291c2b3deadbf.png

Voran, J. (2021, July 25). 10 Kids TV shows that celebrate diversity. Doc McStuffins. [Cartoons]. The Everygirl Media Group. https://media.theeverymom.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/05102341/kids-tv-shows-that-celebrate-diversity-the-everymom-f-h.jpg

3p Learning. (n.d.). Reading bedtime stories: When should you read a bedtime story?. [Photograph]. ABC reading eggs. 3p Learning. https://readingeggs.com/images/articles/bedtime-stories-201907.jpg

3p Learning. (n.d.). [Photograph]. ABC reading eggs. 3p Learning. https://static-25.sinclairstoryline.com/resources/media/4595f42c-b86b-4338-a43f-eb402430beff-large16x9_Childrensurgentcare_ArticleHeader2121x1414.png?1585317466717