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Learning Through Environmental Print
Environmental print refers to the everyday words, symbols and logos found in a child’s surroundings, like traffic signs, cereal boxes and restaurant logos. It helps young learners recognize that print carries meaning and supports early reading development. Families can use the environmental print they encounter in their everyday surroundings to support young children to develop early literacy skills/
Check out the resources below to learn more about what environmental print is, how it promotes literacy development and how families can use it to create learning experiences at home.
What is environmental print?
The Institute for Environmental Research and Education published this blog defining environmental print and explaining the differences between environmental print and the conventional print used in publications. Environmental print contains visual clues such as logos and bright colors that children recognize before they can read.
How does environmental print support early literacy?
This post from Loving Literacy for Littles explores the ways environmental print helps children develop skills in letter recognition, phonemic awareness (the ability to hear and eventually manipulate individual sounds in words), vocabulary and writing. It shares ways families can explore environmental print at home and in their neighborhood.
Creating a literacy-rich environment at home.
Families can create a literacy-rich environment at home by turning everyday text, like words on packages, appliance buttons or even a grocery list, into simple, meaningful literacy moments. Reading Rockets offers suggestions for fun activities that families can engage in together home to support early literacy.
Resource Highlights
- New PBS Kids show for preschoolers – Phoebe and Jay is a literacy-focused series for young children. The fraternal twins explore texts that help preschoolers develop early reading skills — and navigate the world around them.
- Ask this question before a playdate – Gun injuries are a leading cause of death for children younger than 18. Parents published this article with tips on how to start the conversation about gun safety before your child spends time at another family’s home.
- Nurturing kids’ physical and emotional health – Supporting a child’s well‑being means helping them care for their bodies, their feelings and their growing minds. Sesame Workshop developed a collection of whole-child wellness resources to help families nurture their children’s health.
Let’s Read Together!
Make reading aloud several times a day part of your routine. Daily reading time provides children with consistency and stability. Enjoy this shared time! Make funny sounds or sing songs that go along with the story, and encourage your child to join in.
Here are some e-books available at the DC Public Library (DCPL) that families can enjoy together this week:
- The Bear in My Family by Maya Tatsukawa – It’s not easy living with a bear, but one little boy learns that sometimes, a bear in the family can be the best thing in the world.
- High Five by Adam Rubin – Young readers will stretch their hands and practice their high-fives with a series of silly challenges designed to make them laugh.
- Sam With Ants in His Pants by Inga Moore – Restless Sam spends his naptime with the wild animals that leap off the pages of his favorite storybook.
- I’m a Police Officer by Brian Biggs – Simple text tells readers what it’s like to be a policewoman protecting and serving the citizens of Tinyville Town.
- Dinosaur Kisses by David Ezra Stein – An energetic young dinosaur figures out her own way to give a kiss.
Vroom Brain-Building Tip
Vroom is a website and app with science-based tips to help boost young children’s brain connections. Families can turn daily moments into brain-building opportunities.
- Today’s Tip: Dressing Steps
Dressing your child? Talk about each step of the process. For example, “First we put your leg in the pants. Then we put in the other leg. Now we pull the pants up.” Pause after each step so they can move their legs, stand up to help you or make a comment.
- Brainy Background
Your step-by-step description focuses your child on the details of getting dressed. By pausing, you’re giving them practice in waiting, controlling their behavior and learning how to get themself dressed. These are important life skills. And talking with them is always a brain-building moment!
Week of February 23, 2026
- Music and Movement Monday: Follow along to the Hand Clap Rap.
- Tasty Tuesday: Bake a batch of chewy ginger cookies.
- Wellness Wednesday: Relax by playing the Listening Game.
- Textured Thursday: Play with a glow-in-the-dark sensory bottle.
- Family Fun Friday: Make a blanket fort.
Week of March 2, 2026
- Music and Movement Monday: Take a lesson in bucket drumming from Mister Boom Boom.
- Tasty Tuesday: You’ll love this creamy carrot soup.
- Wellness Wednesday: Exercise by doing this Animal Workout.
- Textured Thursday: Try this color sorting sensory bin activity.
- Family Fun Friday: Act out one of your favorite stories.
National Gallery of Art
Families are invited to play, build, sort and stack in a hands-on space at the National Gallery of Art East Building during the museum’s weekly Playtime sessions lead by educators.
Playtime takes place on Tuesdays from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. through March 31. It is free to attend and registration is not required. Children must be accompanied by an adult.
The National Gallery of Art East Building is located at 4th Street and Constitution Avenue NW. The nearest Metro station is Archives-Navy Memorial Penn Quarter (Green and Yellow lies). Metrobuses stop along Constitution Avenue NW. There is no parking garage at the museum, though there are a limited number of parking spaces on the street for vehicles with disability parking permits or tags nearby. There are also several paid parking garages within walking distance to the National Gallery of Art.
For more information, click here.
Family Connections February 2026 Workshops
Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026 | 5:30-6:30 p.m.
Effective Communication in Special Education
This family engagement session will focus on effective communication approaches for young children with disabilities. Families will learn strategies to support meaningful connections and have the opportunity to share concerns, ask questions and sharpen their communication skills. Click here to register.
Strong Start
Strong Start is DC’s early intervention program, offering free services for children under 3 with developmental delays or disabilities. Strong Start provides therapeutic and other services for DC infants, toddlers and their families.
If you have questions about your child’s development, call Strong Start today at (202) 727-3665 or submit a Strong Start referral online.
Product Recall Alerts
The US Consumer Product Safety Commission recently announced the following recall:
- Cobelae Busy Book for Toddlers, which contains small beads that can detach from the product, posing a deadly choking hazard.
- Semifri Children’s Helmets, because they violate the federal safety standards for bicycle helmets. The helmets can fail to protect the user in the event of a crash, posing a serious risk of injury or death due to head injury.
We are here to help! If you need support in navigating these resources or help planning experiences for your children, please contact one of our team members today. Please contact us at DC Child Care Connections (202) 829-2500.
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