![light bulb](https://star.ehe.osu.edu/files/2016/07/light-bulb-150x150.png)
EMERGENT LITERACY
Emergent Literacy is defined as the process that begins at birth and continues to the end of preschool and includes precursors to the onset of reading, such as concepts, skills and knowledge that precede the achievement of conventional literacy.
In this section, you will:
Understand the definition of emergent literacy
Learn what emergent literacy looks like in young children
![Emergent Literacy an initial step on the pathway to reading achievement](https://star.ehe.osu.edu/files/2017/04/EmergetLit1-e1498657976340.png)
Emergent Literacy is an initial step on the pathway to reading achievement.
![Children on computers](https://star.ehe.osu.edu/files/2017/04/EmergentLit2-e1498139733955.png)
Emergent-Literacy skills are the specific abilities and interest that children acquire before they become conventional readers.
![Pretending to write, read name letters, reading print in environment, writing own name, asking questions, playing with sound patterns](https://star.ehe.osu.edu/files/2017/04/EmergentLit3-e1498139524155.png)