Yes, Your Preschooler is Reading!!!!!!!!!

Parents tell me their 15 month old says, “McDonalds” when they go by one, or drive into McDonald's parking lot. It is surprising, but proof of young children’s awareness of the print around them. Research has shown that reading environmental print is the same regardless of children’s gender, ethnicity, or families’ economic status. 

Children learn what the print says by parents’ conversations about the experience.  You may have said, “We need some things from Wal-Mart," driven to Wal-Mart and you may have even pointed out the sign.

As you become more aware of the print around us, you will see that it is usually in capital letters, and conveys importance. It is no coincidence that when young children begin writing it often is with capital letters. This informal reading of environmental print helps children understand that print conveys a message, letters represent sounds, and letters are put together to form words.

All of these learnings support the foundation of successful formal reading.