A Caregiver's Guide to Print Awareness Through Play
Print awareness is a key early literacy skill that helps children understand that print carries meaning. Through playful activities, you can help your child notice words, letters, and symbols in the world around them.
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Here are fun, age-appropriate ideas for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers:
■ Infants (0–12 months)
High-Contrast Board Books – Share short, simple books with bold images and large text. Point to words as you read.
Name Play – Show your baby their name on a sign or card and say it aloud.
Label the World – Use books or photo albums with labels; touch the word and say it.
Routine Reading – Read the same short book each night to build recognition.
■ Toddlers (1–3 years)
Sign Hunt – Point out store signs, street names, and familiar symbols.
Label Play – Label toy bins or doors; match objects to labels.
Pretend Reading – Let them turn pages and tell the story in their own words.
Alphabet Everywhere – Use magnetic letters and name them during play.
■ Preschoolers (3–5 years)
Shared Reading – Point to each word as you read aloud.
Create a Menu – Make a pretend restaurant menu with pictures and words.
Book Scavenger Hunt – Search for certain letters or words in books.
Write the Day – Make a simple daily plan with words and drawings.
■ Kindergarteners (5–6 years)
Sight Word Hunt – Search for sight words in books, magazines, or around the house.
Create a Story – Write a simple story together; let your child illustrate it. • Label the House – Help your child write labels for common items (chair, table, door).
Shared Journaling – Keep a daily journal where you write a sentence and they copy or add their own words.
Reading Buddy – Have your child read to a younger sibling, pet, or stuffed animal to practice fluency.
By making print a playful and natural part of everyday life, you help your child build the foundation for reading success. Whether they are an infant, toddler, preschooler, or school-ager, every small moment with print counts!
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