Print Awareness

Print awareness is one of the six early literacy skills necessary for a child to have in order to be ready to learn to read. Print awareness is noticing print everywhere, understanding how to hold a book properly, and understanding that the words and letters on the page have meaning.

Children have to understand how a book works before they can be ready to read. They should know that books have front and back covers, are held a certain way, and that you read from the top of the page down and left to right (in English). They need to know that the words have meaning and that the words and pictures work together to tell the story.

Here are some ways you can help your child develop print awareness:

· Start babies out with soft padded books or board books with rounded corners that they can grasp and chew. It’s important for babies to explore books with all of their senses.

· Point to the words in the book as you read.

· Let your child turn the pages as you read.

· Turn the book upside down and see if your child notices. If not, tell him it was not the right way for reading and turn it right-side up.

· Point out signs as you are out and about and read them to your child.

· Point out print wherever you find it – cereal boxes, restaurant menus, recipes, shopping lists, etc.

· Play “I Spy” with words you see while driving (for example “I spy an M” as you near a McDonald’s).

· Read to your child every day.

These are just a few ideas to help your child develop print awareness. The more your child is exposed to print, the more she will see how print is all around us and used in our lives every day.

Guest post by Allison C.