2 to 3 Years of Age

2 to 3 Years of Age

In their pretend reading, young children between the ages of 2 and 3 often will point to and verbally label parts of the pictures; they also will name actions they see in a book (McGee & Richgels, 1996; Sulzby, 1991). These children also begin to recognize environmental print, such as signs, logos and labels they frequently see in their homes and communities (Emergent Literacy Project, n.d.; International Reading Association & National Association for the Education of Young Children, 1998; McGee & Richgels, 1996).

At this stage, children often begin scribble writing--making simple straight lines or marks on paper. When the scribbling is done with the intention that it conveys a message ("Look what I wrote, Mommy!"), children have begun to experiment with early literacy. This intentional "writing" is different from the circular scribbling that also occurs during this age period (Barclay, 1991).

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