For first time readers, learning to read can be like swimming in a large ocean full of odd looking squiggles and lines! Reading is a very complex process. It involves not only knowing the visual features of letters but also the sound(s)those letters represent either individually or in letter clusters. Directionality is also an essential behavior of early literacy learning. The learner has to train his or her eyes to scan in a left to right movement and at the end of each printed line to return to the left side of the page for additional lines of print. To become a fluent reader, this requires fast recognition of words and word parts in a left to right movement while keeping comprehension of the story or subject matter strong. Thus, it is extremely important that young children see print and gain an awareness of print along with directionality at an early age. Reading to your child, pointing to the text as you read, commenting on various features of print (such as, "Look this letter is first letter in your name!) or pointing to print on billboards and places of business. These are rich experiences which give your child an awareness of print to accelerate his or her initial dive into reading!