Print awareness

Print awareness

Print awareness is noticing print and understanding it has a function, that each word on a page represents a spoken word.  It also includes knowing how to handle a book, which side is the cover, how to hold the book, and how to turn pages one by one and which way to turn the pages.

Ideas to develop an awareness of print

• • Reading books with your child is the best way to help them learn how to handle books.

  • Let your child hold the book, turn the pages, and point to the words as you read.

  • Use your finger to track the words as you are reading to illustrate that words represent a spoken word and convey a message.

  • Tracking the words as you read also helps your child understand that text is read from left to right.

  • Point out the parts of a book such as the front cover, title, and author or illustrator.

  • Later, you can ask them where you should start - try reading the words in reverse order, to demonstrate that the story doesn't make sense if you don't start in the right place.

  • Point out and talk about print in your environment – signs or familiar words, like your child’s name for example.