More than Letters: A Whole-Child Approach to Literacy Season 4 Episode 5 with Stacy Benge

What does early literacy really look like—and are we sometimes pushing academic skills before children are ready? In this episode of Tiny Talks on Early Learning, author and early childhood speaker Stacy Benge joins us to explore how young children actually develop the foundations for reading and writing. Drawing from her book, The Whole Child Alphabet, Stacy explains why movement, play, relationships, conversation, and meaningful real-world experiences are such important parts of early literacy. We also talk about the pressure to teach academic skills earlier, practices educators may want to reconsider, and practical ways to create literacy-rich environments without relying on worksheets, drills, or forced activities. This conversation is a reminder that literacy development is about much more than learning letters—it’s about giving children the experiences and connections that help those skills grow. 🎧 Explore more from Tiny Talks on Early Learning: 📚 Learn more about Stacy Benge, her book, courses, and resources on her website! Tiny Talks on Early Learning breaks down the complexities of child’s play and explores the ideas, research, and everyday practices shaping early childhood education. #TinyTalks #EarlyChildhoodEducation #EarlyLiteracy #LiteracyDevelopment #LearningThroughPlay #WholeChild #ECE #StacyBenge