Emergent Literacy Is Foundational to Health Literacy in Children: Interdisciplinary Relationships to Boost Child Health

Abstract

The purpose of this chapter is to describe and explain interdisciplinary connections between literacy and health for preschool children, preparing them to enter kindergarten with opportunities to develop both functional and interactive health literacy skills. Emergent literacy is foundational to the development of both functional health literacy and interactive health literacy among children. Enriched and healthy environments for children are fostered by their relationships with parents, peers, and professionals who act as literacy influencers when they use print and electronic books to build functional health knowledge coupled with interactive conversations about health. Preschool children who have access to multimodal literacy materials (e.g., print and electronic) and health affordances (e.g., toothbrushes, eyeglasses, hearing aids) will build literacy routines and health habits in tandem. Whole child development is woven from behaviors practiced at consistent times of the day. Emergent literacies that lead to functional and interactive health literacy support child identity and agency through a developmental process. The concepts of executive functioning, information processing, and self-regulation are further realized when children and their literacy influencers practice reading, writing, and speaking about health in various social contexts.