What skill is emphasized as part of early literacy development?

Phonemic awareness is a crucial skill in early literacy development as it involves the ability to hear, identify, and manipulate the individual sounds (phonemes) in spoken words. This skill lays the foundation for children to understand the relationship between sounds and letters, which is essential for reading and spelling. When children develop phonemic awareness, they can better decode words when reading, which enhances their overall literacy skills.

Additionally, phonemic awareness activities, such as rhyming, segmenting, and blending sounds, are typically part of early education curricula aimed at promoting literacy. This foundational skill helps guide children as they learn to read and write, making it an essential focus in early literacy development programs. Other options, while important in various educational contexts, do not specifically serve as foundational skills for early literacy the way phonemic awareness does.