SOOOOOO easy!

Do you ever wonder why your  young child can read McDonald's but not other words?  Or what about other words in our environment like, Power Ranger  Have you ever been out and about and from the back seat you hear, I want McDonald's.  If you are like I was, you say, Oh, there isn't a McDonald's close to us.  To which your sweet one says,  Yes, there is right over there.  Much to your surprise they can read the sign amongst all the other signs at the intersection.

Environmental print is just that, the print in our environment, our everyday lives.   It is everywhere and children have a natural connection to it.  They see it everyday and in authentic context...their world.   

Hopefully your child's preschool or Kindergarten is using environmental print.   It is a natural link to the letters and sounds in words.   You can say, That's right, that's an 'M' just like in McDonald's.   That word starts just like Taco in Taco Bell.  The sound of 'w' is hard but not if they can read Wendy's.

If your child's teacher isn't using environmental print like this teacher, ask them why?  But you can use it!   Make a little book titled,  Foods We Like and put a logo/word of different foods your child likes.  You can find images for Kraft Mac n Cheese boxes and other foods on the internet.   Try a book about the games you play.   If a book is too hard, make a memory/concentration game.  I promise your kids will benefit.

Hopefully your child is doing things with environmental print like this at school.   If not, ask why not?  It never hurts to ask.