Invite your child to write an e-mail message to a friend or relative. Ask him to tell you what he wants to say as you type and ask him to help you type by pointing out the letters on the keyboard. If you don’t have e-mail, help your child write a note to a friend or relative. Mail the note with an envelope and stamp or deliver it in person!

Writing messages with e-mail is another way your child can see that “print” has meaning—even though the print is on your computer screen! Help your child compose his message by asking him questions about what he’d like to say: “Would you like to tell Grandma about our trip to the zoo?” “Would you like to ask Billy to come over after preschool on Friday?” After you’ve composed your child’s message together, be sure to ask him to type or sign his name at the end!