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