When babies learn to memorize words on flashcards or DVDs, you could argue that they
are developing an awareness of print. However, the awareness of print they acquire from
flashcards does not necessarily reflect the function of print in books or everyday life.
What’s more, because the babies are simply memorizing these words, they will not be able
to apply this skill in different situations and learn to read new words on their own. To do
this, children need to acquire
phonological awareness, an understanding that words can
be broken down into smaller parts such as sounds and syllables, and that these parts can
be combined and manipulated. Phonological awareness is the strongest predictor of
children’s later reading and spelling abilities [2].