What is the significance of listening skills in reading development?

Listening skills play a crucial role in reading development primarily because they help children understand language patterns. When children listen to spoken language, they are exposed to the rhythms, intonations, and structures of language. This exposure is fundamental for developing phonemic awareness, which is the ability to hear and manipulate individual sounds within words.

As children listen, they begin to recognize how words are formed, the sounds associated with letters, and the syntax of sentences. This understanding is foundational for reading comprehension, as it connects the auditory signals they hear with the written words they eventually read.

By developing strong listening skills, children are better prepared to decode texts in the same way they understand spoken language, making it a vital skill in the journey to becoming proficient readers.