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Early Literacy for Families

Prepare your child for success in reading, school and life with these resources from San Antonio Public Library's early literacy program.

What is Print Awareness?

Print awareness is noticing print, knowing how to handle a book and knowing how to follow the words on a page. Being familiar with printed language helps children feel comfortable with books and understand that print is useful.

Birth to two:
  • Use board books or cloth books and have your child hold the book.
  • If there are only a few words on the page, point to each word as you say it.
  • Read aloud every day - print labels, signs, menus. Print is everywhere!
 
Two- through five-year-olds,  all of the above plus:
  • Point to some of the words as you say them, especially words that are repeated.
  • Let your child turn the pages.
  • Let your child hold the book and read or tell the story.
  • Hold the book upside down. See if your child turns the book around.

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