Specific to early literacy, descriptive research shows that a
literacy-in-play strategy is effective in increasing the range
and amount of literacy behaviors during play, thus allowing
children to practice their emerging skills and show what they
have learned (Neuman & Roskos 1992). Evidence is also
accumulating that this strategy helps children learn important
literacy concepts and skills, such as knowledge about
the functions of writing (Vukelich 1993), the ability to recognize
play-related print (Neuman & Roskos 1993), and comprehension
strategies such as self-checking and self-correction
(Neuman & Roskos 1997). Like storybook reading, the
literacy learning potential of play can be increased when it
includes before, during, and after types of scaffolding as
illustrated in “Guided Play to Explore New Words and Their
Sounds.”