ENVIRONMENTAL PRINT
Sandy Moline, Early Childhood Educator

What is Environmental Print?

• The print we see around us – labels on cereal boxes, candy, favorite snacks and drinks, as well as logos and signs we see on household items, streets, stores and restaurants
• The print we recognize because of the shape, colors and pictures – like the McDonalds arches, a red stop sign or the Target bull’s-eye
• A powerful tool for literacy – children begin to see themselves as readers when they realize they already know how to read certain logos or signs

Why Use Environmental Print?

• All children are exposed to environmental print – note that children will pay attention only to the logos that are most meaningful to them
• Children as young as 3 years old can recognize logos of fast food chains
• Environmental print is meaningful to children – children see print written in different fonts  and eventually children begin to learn about the function of print (words do not all start with the same letter, end with the same letter or all look the same)
• Environmental print shows children that print has a function – it can be used to show direction, increase knowledge and  to establish identity
• Children have first hand experience with environmental print and thus they have better understanding - parents and teachers are building on skills that a child already has.  Children first recognize environmental print from the colors, shapes and pictures that surround it, and then they move to recognizing without color and finally focus on the letters and words.
• Children have success as they read environmental print – children see reading as something they can do and something that is fun
• Environmental print is readily available and inexpensive

Tips for Using Environmental Print With Children:

• Set out pictures of logos, street signs, or products you buy in the store.  You can get pictures online, by saving labels, or cut the pictures out of newspapers or magazines.  Have your child point to a product you name.  You could also have duplicates of the environmental print cards and play a game of memory.  Turn all the cards upside down.  Have your child turn over two cards. If they match you can set the cards aside.  If the cards do not match, turn the cards upside down and try again.
• Ask your child to identify the logo, street sign, and type of cereal or product label.
• Sort environmental print into good or bad foods or type of food – candy, cereal, fruits or vegetables.
• Play a Bingo game with Environmental Print. 
• Play an I Spy Game or Find Waldo type game.  Help your child make an environmental print collage.  Ask can you find the _____?

Additional Resources:

http://www.hubbardscupboard.org/i_can_read_.html

http://www.pre-kpages.com/environmental_print.html

http://www.sharonmacdonald.com/environmental-print.aspx

Sandy Moline, Early Childhood Educator
Rosemount, Apple Valley, Eagan Area Schools