Print Awareness is noticing print everywhere; knowing how to handle a book; knowing how we follow the words on a page.Why is print awareness important?
- Children must become aware of words before they can read them.
- They also must be familiar with how books work: books have a cover, you begin reading at the top of the page and from left to right (in English), books have words and pictures to tell the story. We read the text/print on the page, not the pictures.
- When children feel comfortable with books, they can concentrate on reading.
How can parents help children notice print and understand how books work?
- Let your child turn the pages as you read a book
- As you read, point to words from time to time so your child learns you are reading text, not the pictures
- Hold book up-side-down and see if the child knows it has to be turned around.
- If a book has a word or phrase that repeats, point to it on the page and let the child say it, and you point to the words
- Have your child make a book; talk about the different parts: cover, words, pictures, beginning, middle, end
- Print is everywhere-help your preschooler recognize it: names of restaurants and stores, food, movies, stop signs and street signs and other types of print that you see as you walk and drive.
