Ready for Reading

BIRTH TO 5

Seeing Words

Being familiar with printed language helps children feel comfortable with books and reading:

Print awareness includes noticing that print is all around and has meaning.
Before learning how to read a book, a child must learn what a book is, how words work and how letters represents words.
This section offers some ideas and activities to help your child become comfortable with printed language, books and reading.

Developmental Milestones

When books are available in the home, a child goes quickly from chewing a board book to enjoying both words and pictures.

Babies

Look at books and point to pictures.
Give books to adults to read to them.

Toddlers

Scribble on paper with a purpose and tell you what they wrote or drew.
Begin to pay attention to specific print such as the first letters of their names.
Turn books right side up; can turn pages with your help.

Preschoolers

Identify familiar signs and labels.
Have an understanding of the function of print.
Know that print has a message.

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