Print Walk
Children take a walk and spot print on signs, labels, and packages.
Ages 30–54 months
Materials
- The everyday environment (room, hallway, or neighborhood)
- Optional clipboard and crayon to "write down" finds
Steps
- Walk together and pause when you reach print.
- Point to the words and say "These letters tell us something."
- Ask the child what they think it says and read it aloud.
- Invite the child to find more print along the way.
Variations
- Hunt for the first letter of the child's name on packages and signs.
Differentiation
- For beginners, focus on one familiar logo or their own name card.
- For older children, ask them to point to where reading starts on a sign.
Accessibility
- Use large-print or high-contrast targets, or tactile labels, for low vision.
Practices these skills
Evidence
- Developmentally Appropriate Practice in Early Childhood Programs (4th ed.) — National Association for the Education of Young Children · 2022 · National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC)
- Head Start Early Learning Outcomes Framework (ELOF) — U.S. Office of Head Start · 2015 · U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Early Atlas