Print concepts help children understand how our language looks in print form. They are reading behaviors that support learning to read. Children should understand that print tells the story, not the pictures. They should also be able to point to words in left to right fashion and return to the next line as they pretend read or someone else reads to them. Print concepts also involve understanding the difference between letters and words. As children develop these concepts, they will begin to develop voice-print match, the ability to point to each word, one by one, as it is read.
Provide reading time at home when all family members are reading. Accept your child's pretend reading and encourage pointing. (This does not replace the time when you read aloud to your child.)
Play games when you are finished reading aloud to your child. Go back and count how many letters are in a word or how many words are on a particular page. Tell your child you spy a three letter word and see if he/she can find it.
Provide a special pointer for pointing at the words while reading (an unsharpened pencil with a fancy eraser works well).
Use magic fingers. Have the child extend the pointer finger on each hand and use them to make a frame around letters or words.
Use a magnifying glass for your child to be a letter or word "detective".