2.5y–4.2y10 minDevelopmental playFree playFamily time
Print Spotter: Names, Signs, Posters
Create a print-rich environment using names, simple signs, and playful labels, then do a quick print hunt so your child notices words in everyday spaces and plays with sounds in words.
What you'll need
Essentials
- paper or sticky notes
- a marker or pen
- tape (if not using sticky notes)
- 2–3 everyday items with print (e.g., cereal box, toothpaste box, food packet)
Nice to have
- a small photo of family members (phone photos are fine)
- stickers to decorate signs
Movement level: low
What you'll do
The 4-step guide, with what to look for at each step, is for signed-in parents.
What this develops
What it practices
- Enjoys rhyming and rhythmic activities.Observable behaviour from Development Matters
- Shows awareness of rhyme and alliteration.Observable behaviour from Development Matters
- Continues a rhyming string.Observable behaviour from Development Matters
- Hears and says the initial sound in words.Observable behaviour from Development Matters
- Can segment the sounds in simple words and blend them together and knows which letters represent some of them.Observable behaviour from Development Matters
Where it comes from
- Source
- Development Matters in the EYFS (DfE, 2012)
- Original guidance
- “Create an environment rich in print where children can learn about words, e.g. using names, signs, posters.”
- License
- Open Government Licence v3.0
- Attribution
- © Crown Copyright 2012 (Development Matters in the EYFS, DfE)