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 at the top of the page and read from left to right (at least in English!)
- books may have both words and pictures to tell the story, but we read the 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 abook up-side-down and see if the child knows it needs 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 as you point to the wordss
Have your child make a book; talk about the different parts: cover, words, pictures, beginning, middle, and 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.
