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Write

Writing helps children learn that letters and words represent sounds, and that print has meaning. Before learning how to read a book, a child must learn what a book is, how words work, how letters represent words and that written words are made of individual letters.

Pointing to words as you read them helps your child become familiar with printed language. This helps your child see that in English, we read from the top of the page to the bottom, from left to right, and that it’s the print on the page being read, and not the pictures.

The letters in your child’s name are most interesting to them. Write your child’s name together, write captions to your child’s drawings, and have them help you with your lists, or simply give them crayons to draw shapes and letters.

Activities

Discover Write Activities

Writing Tips

  • Encourage scribbling, writing and drawing in daily activities. Give your child opportunities to practice “writing” her name or let her “write” notes or lists.
  • A shopping list is one way to show your child that printed words represent real things. Show your child how you write your shopping list (and let him “write” one too). At the store, read the list with your child and find the items together. You can use pictures from flyers to create lists as well.
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