7 Reasons why literacy is important
International Literacy Day on 8 September offers the perfect opportunity to discover why literacy is important and how it shapes learning, relationships and future opportunities, at every stage of a child’s education.
At school, children learn phonics, complete reading activities and write essays in the classroom, yet literacy development does not begin and end at the school gate.
It develops through conversations at the dinner table. It grows when a young child asks about a street sign. It strengthens when a teenager evaluates a news article or explains an opinion.
In Australia, literacy is recognised as fundamental to learning across the curriculum. Students need literacy skills not only in English, but also in science, mathematics, history, technology and every other learning area.
For families, understanding what literacy really means can make supporting children feel less daunting. It can also reveal many opportunities that already exist in everyday life.
What does literacy actually mean?
When people hear the word literacy, they often think first about reading and writing. These skills remain essential, but literacy is much broader.
Literacy involves how children listen, speak, read, view, write and create. It also involves understanding and using language for different purposes and audiences.
A young child demonstrates early literacy when they retell a familiar story. A primary student uses literacy when they explain how they solved a problem. A teenager uses literacy when they analyse a persuasive argument.
Modern literacy also includes visual and digital communication. Young people must interpret images, advertisements, videos, websites and social media. They need to recognise reliable information and question misleading claims.
This makes literacy increasingly important in a world where children encounter enormous amounts of information every day.
The Australian Curriculum identifies literacy as one of the general capabilities that supports students to become successful learners and active, informed citizens.
1. Literacy supports learning in every subject
Strong literacy skills help children access almost every part of their education.
Students need to understand instructions, interpret questions and learn new vocabulary. They read information in science and analyse sources in history. They explain mathematical reasoning and present findings in technology.
As students move through school, the language they encounter becomes more specialised. A Year 10 student may understand a science concept but struggle to explain it using appropriate terminology. Similarly, a student may know the answer to a question but misinterpret what the question is asking.
Literacy therefore supports much more than English lessons.
This is one reason parents should continue encouraging reading and language development as children grow older. Literacy does not become less important once a child can read independently. The demands simply change.
Reading fluently is an important milestone. Reading critically, confidently and deeply becomes increasingly important during secondary school.
2. Literacy begins long before formal schooling
Children begin building literacy foundations well before they start Kindergarten.
Long before children decode words, they develop language through listening and conversation. Songs, rhymes, stories and everyday discussions all contribute to this development.
Australian research highlighted by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) shows that early home learning experiences are important for language and cognitive development. Regular shared reading can support language, literacy and social-emotional development.
Parents do not need to turn every interaction into a lesson. Instead, talk about what you can see. Ask questions during a walk. Sing favourite songs together. Encourage children to describe their experiences.
When sharing a book, try pausing occasionally to discuss the story:
“What do you think will happen next?”
“Why do you think that character did that?”
These simple conversations encourage children to think beyond the words on the page.
The AIHW also reports that children can benefit from shared reading through improved vocabulary, oral language and understanding of how print works.
3. Reading together remains valuable as children grow
Many parents naturally read aloud with toddlers and young children. The habit can disappear once children become independent readers.
However, shared reading can still have value throughout the primary years and beyond.
Reading together creates opportunities for conversation. A book, article or even a podcast transcript can become a starting point for discussing ideas that may not otherwise arise.
For younger children, parents can follow their interests. Dinosaurs, sport, space, animals and mysteries can all encourage reading.
Older children may prefer biographies, graphic novels, current affairs or books connected with their hobbies. The format matters less than sustained engagement with language and ideas.
Parents can also model reading. Children notice when adults read for enjoyment, information and practical purposes. Seeing a parent read a novel, recipe, newspaper article or travel guide helps demonstrate that literacy is part of everyday life.
The AIHW Research using Australian longitudinal data has also found links between frequent early reading and later reading achievement. Children whose parents read to them daily at ages two and three achieved higher Year 3 NAPLAN reading scores on average than those read to less frequently, even after accounting for socio-demographic factors.
4. Literacy helps children make sense of the digital world
Today’s children do not simply consume printed information. They navigate a constant stream of digital content. This creates new literacy challenges.
A polished website does not always contain reliable information. A confident speaker in a video may not be an expert. An image can create a powerful impression without presenting the full story.
Children and teenagers need opportunities to ask questions such as:
Who created this information?
Why was it created?
What evidence supports the claim?
Is another perspective missing?
Parents can support these habits through everyday conversations. Discuss a headline together. Ask what makes a source trustworthy. Compare how two different outlets report the same event. These conversations help children develop critical literacy alongside their reading and writing skills.
UNESCO’s International Literacy Day also recognises that the meaning of literacy continues to evolve as societies and technologies change.
5. Literacy builds communication and confidence
Children use language to express ideas, form relationships and understand the perspectives of others.
A child with a strong vocabulary has more tools for describing what they think and feel. A teenager with confidence in communication may find it easier to participate in discussions, interviews and presentations.
This does not mean every child needs to become an enthusiastic public speaker. Rather, literacy gives young people choices in how they communicate. They can write persuasively, explain a complex idea, ask thoughtful questions and adapt their language to different situations.
Parents can support this development by creating space for conversation. Try resisting the urge to answer every question immediately. Ask children what they think first. Encourage them to explain their reasoning. Listen carefully when they share an opinion, even when you disagree.
These conversations show children that their ideas have value. They also give them regular practice organising thoughts into language.
6. Literacy opens doors beyond school
The benefits of literacy continue well beyond the classroom. Adults use literacy to apply for jobs, understand contracts, access services and make informed decisions. They use it to communicate professionally and participate in their communities.
The AIHW describes literacy as one of the fundamental building blocks for educational achievement, life outside school and future employment opportunities.
For students, literacy also supports independence. A confident reader can investigate an interest. A capable writer can communicate an idea. A critical reader can question information rather than accepting it automatically.
These skills become increasingly valuable as young people prepare for further study, training and employment.
7. Parents can support literacy without adding pressure
Supporting literacy does not require parents to recreate the classroom at home. In fact, pressure can sometimes undermine a child’s enjoyment of reading and learning. Instead, focus on creating a language-rich environment.
Keep reading materials accessible. Visit the library. Encourage children to pursue topics that genuinely interest them. Talk together during everyday activities.
Cooking offers opportunities to read instructions. Shopping involves interpreting labels. Travel introduces maps, signs and timetables.
For teenagers, literacy might involve discussing a documentary, analysing advertising or comparing information from different sources.
The key is consistency rather than perfection.
Children benefit when language, reading and discussion feel like natural parts of family life.
It is also important to remember that children develop at different rates. If a parent has concerns about a child’s literacy development, an early conversation with their teacher can help identify appropriate support.
Schools and families work best when they share information and encourage children together.
Literacy is a lifelong skill
International Literacy Day is a reminder that literacy continues to shape how people learn, communicate and participate in the world.
For parents, the most important message is also one of the simplest.
Your everyday interactions matter.
The stories you share, conversations you have and questions you ask can all contribute to a child’s developing relationship with language.
From PreKinder through to Year 12, literacy changes in complexity. Its importance, however, remains constant.
At All Saints Grammar, we understand that literacy provides a foundation for learning across every stage of a child’s education. As a co-educational school for students from PreKindergarten to Year 12, we aim to help young people develop the communication, critical thinking and learning skills they need for school and life beyond it. Through engaging learning experiences and strong partnerships with families, students can continue building the confidence to read widely, think deeply and communicate with purpose. To see how we are shaping bright minds, kind hearts and bold spirits register to attend one of our small group tours.
