ABSTRACT
The aim of this chapter is to look at ways in which we as educators canprovide opportunities that will nurture children as writers. Young children are constantly exposed to print in the environment in which they live, whether at home, at playgroup, in the street or at school. They see adults and older children writing notes to each other, lists for a shopping trip, letters and e-mails. They begin to realise that these marks on paper and screen are regarded as important by those around them and can have many uses. Just as they learn to talk by experimenting with spoken language and imitating those around them, children will often experiment with marks on paper and on the computer screen. They will try out patterns and attempt to communicate through this medium themselves.
