Which skill is essential for a child to prepare to learn reading and writing?

Decoding is the process of translating written text into spoken words by associating letters and letter combinations with their corresponding sounds. This skill is crucial for children as they learn to read because it enables them to recognize words and understand how letters combine to create sounds, which is foundational for reading proficiency.

When children are proficient at decoding, they can start to read texts independently, which in turn promotes fluency and comprehension. This ability acts as a bridge between spoken language, which they have likely been exposed to from a young age, and the written language they need to learn. By mastering decoding skills, children can take their first critical steps toward becoming effective readers and writers.

In contrast, while comprehension of advanced vocabulary, creative writing, and public speaking are valuable skills, they are not fundamental in the early stages of learning to read and write. Comprehension of advanced vocabulary is more relevant at later stages, once basic reading skills are established. Creative writing and public speaking focus more on expression and communication than the foundational skills needed for reading and writing. Therefore, decoding stands out as the essential first step in the literacy development of a child.