ABSTRACT
Some children learn to read with such ease that it is difficult to understand how they acquired the art. Some children learn to read despite being encumbered with inappropriate help. One important factor that contributes to early learning, and helps children to avoid later, more difficult struggles with the skills needed for reading, is recognition of the purpose of reading. This tends to underpin the entire enterprise, and in turn underlines the importance of creating an environment in which reading is the most natural and enjoyable activity. Each child’s ability to learn is best helped by giving that child a purpose. Print is not such a barrier if it is seen as a means to an end, rather than a mystery in itself. When children see beyond a task to the reason for carrying it out, then learning the intermediate task is that much easier.
