Which of the following activities promotes early literacy skills in children aged 8 to 18 months?

Reading books with familiar content is particularly effective in promoting early literacy skills in children aged 8 to 18 months because it supports language development and comprehension. This age group benefits from repeated exposure to familiar stories, characters, and concepts, which helps them build recognition and understanding of language. Familiar content provides a comforting context that encourages engagement and interaction, facilitating vocabulary growth as children hear and become familiar with words.

During this developmental stage, children are also starting to make connections between words and their meanings. Reading aloud introduces new vocabulary and concepts in a meaningful way, enhancing their ability to understand and eventually use language themselves. Furthermore, sharing books together fosters bonding between the caregiver and child, which is crucial for social-emotional development.

In contrast, other activities listed may not individually target early literacy skills as effectively. Singing and dancing can support language through rhythm and melody but may not directly relate to word comprehension and recognition as reading does. Competitive games often focus on other skills such as physical coordination or social interaction rather than literacy. Watching animated shows might provide some exposure to language but lacks the interactive, engaging quality of reading together, which is vital at this age for developing foundational literacy skills.