It’s one of the most common questions I hear from parents and educators, and one that often comes with pressure to get there fast.

Many people believe the ultimate goal is for children to read and write as early as possible.

But here’s the truth: early literacy isn’t about how quickly children master the alphabet. It’s about how deeply they develop the foundations that make reading and writing possible in the first place.

In this 15-minute training, we’ll unpack what early literacy really means, why the “sooner is better” mindset can backfire, and what needs to develop before formal instruction begins.

You’ll learn how skills like language, movement, perception, and emotional connection all work together to build strong literacy foundations, long before a child ever picks up a pencil.

You’ll hear from me, Stacy Benge, early childhood speaker and author of The Whole-Child Alphabet: How Young Children Actually Develop Literacy.

Training certificate awarded upon watching the training and completing the accompanying quiz.