A preschool child creates a drawing and writes letters that resemble the child's name, then says 'I wrote my name.' Which literacy concept is most clearly demonstrated by this work?

• A. Encoding based on the alphabetic principle
• B. Applying phonemic awareness to writing
• C. Showing diminished fine-motor control
• D. Recognizing that print carries meaning

Answer: (D)

Print awareness is being demonstrated here—the child understands that the marks on the page can carry language and meaning. By writing something that resembles their name and then saying they wrote it, the child shows that writing is used to represent words and communicate, not just random marks. This reflects an emerging recognition that print has purpose and can convey information.

It’s not yet showing encoding based on the alphabetic principle, which would involve reliably mapping sounds to specific letters to spell words, or the ability to manipulate phonemes to write. It also doesn’t indicate a motor issue, since the child is actively producing written marks.