Posters
Posters can be a simple, low-cost method of transforming a space with learning-rich messages. We have created a variety of posters on different themes - download and print the posters that best suit your space!
Download Posters
Transformation Materials
Posters
Posters can be a simple, low-cost method of transforming a space with learning-rich messages. We have created a variety of posters on different themes – download and print the posters that best suit your space!
Transformation Materials
Customizing and Creating Space Transformation Materials
We have a variety of materials to help you customize your space transformations, such as creating new Talking is Teaching posters.
Everyday Spaces and Waiting Rooms
Everyday spaces and waiting rooms – such as waiting rooms in a hospital, family court, WIC clinic, social service agency, and more – can be powerful locations for encouraging parent-child interaction around early learning. Below, you’ll find ready-made resources for transforming everyday spaces and waiting rooms in your community.
Transformation Materials
"Family Read, Play & Learn" Kit
These “Family Read, Play & Learn” kits are uniquely designed to create safe, fun, and engaging environments for children and families. All kits are equipped with literacy-rich materials to support young children’s early brain and language development and help prepare them for success in school and beyond.
Transformation Materials
Sidewalk Math Decals
These decals, designed by the Sidewalk Math team at Lesley University and produced by FASTSIGNS of Fairless Hills, offer children and families a way to both play and build early math skills.
Evaluations
We have evaluated the impact of transforming various everyday spaces, including social service agencies.
Transforming California Social Service Agency Waiting RoomsCommunities across the country have identified grocery stores as locations for space transformation and to encourage parent-child interaction through talking, reading, and singing. Families regularly visit the grocery store and, if done well, a transformation at a grocery store can encourage parent-child interaction through talking, reading, and singing.
Because grocery stores typically have competing signage, we advise caution when implementing this strategy. If you plan to use this strategy, we encourage you to identify a grocery store where management and staff are invested in and excited about the transformation, as well as a store that does not have too much competing signage.
Transformation Materials
Andy the Apple Creative Materials
In an effort to turn grocery stores into learning-rich environments, we created various Andy the Apple signs and decals that can be printed and placed in your local grocery store.
Transformation Materials
Andy the Apple Style Guide
Andy the Apple is the basis for much of our grocery creative. If you are interested in creating your own Andy the Apple materials, please first review our Style Guide and our Branding Guide.
Transformation Materials
Posters
Posters can be a simple, low-cost method of transforming a space with learning-rich messages. We have created a variety of posters on different themes – download and print the posters that best suit your space!
Families spend an average of 2.5 hours at the laundromat during each visit. This makes laundry time a valuable, yet often overlooked opportunity for parents and caregivers to engage their littlest learners in talking, reading and singing, and can turn this routine activity into a fun, educational experience!
Wash Time is Talk Time
In 2015, Too Small to Fail and the LaundryCares Foundation partnered to turn wash time into talk time.
Transformation Materials
Laundromat "Family Read, Play & Learn" Kit
These “Family Read, Play & Learn” kits are uniquely designed to create safe, fun, and engaging places for children and families in laundromats. “Family Read, Play & Learn” kits are equipped with literacy-rich materials to support children’s early brain and language development, and are a meaningful way to serve families during laundry time.
Transformation Materials
Sidewalk Math Decals
These decals, designed by the Sidewalk Math team at Lesley University and produced by FASTSIGNS of Fairless Hills, offer children and families a way to both play and build early math skills.
Laundromat Posters
Posters can be a simple, low-cost method of transforming the laundromat with learning-rich messages. Use the Welcome poster on the front window. Place the Let’s Talk poster inside. Distribute the smaller posters throughout the laundromat!
Welcome Poster
Laundry Welcome Poster
Let's Talk About Laundry Time Poster
Download
Let's Talk About Clothes Poster 1
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Let's Talk About Clothes Poster 2
Download
Table Talk Poster
Download
Read and Rinse Poster
Download
Sing and Spin Poster
Download
Why Poster
Download
Laundromat Activity Posters
Download
Waiting Room Posters
DownloadEvaluations
Evaluating Transformed Laundromats
We have commissioned multiple evaluations of our laundromat strategy, and each has shown positive literacy-related findings. View all our evaluations here.
We know that playtime can be talk time too – an opportunity for families to engage in fun, brain-building activities while exercising their bodies. Explore our resources to transform your local playgrounds and outdoor spaces into learning-rich environments!
Transformation Materials
Playground Panels
Playground designs featuring Talking is Teaching panels incorporate topics that are relatable to young children—bedtime, feelings, colors, shapes, numbers and more. The designs, available for purchase from Landscape Structures, Inc., provide room for language-rich interactions among children and their caregivers as well as encourage social play among all children.
Transformation Materials
Talking is Teaching Playgrounds
Landscape Structures, Inc. has created a variety of playground structures with Talking is Teaching messages. If you are interested in placing an order, please first reach out to [email protected].
When we think about everyday spaces where families spend time, one popular location is stores, such as thrift stores. In 2022, the Talking is Teaching community campaign in Muskegon, Michigan launched a Learning Adventure at their local Goodwill stores. Since then, the initiative has grown across the state of Michigan. We have adapted the materials, which can now be used to transform any kind of store!
Transformation Materials
Learning Adventure at the Store
This Learning Adventure includes decals, signs, scavenger hunt materials, and more in order to transform your local store into a learning-rich environment!
For access to the Goodwill version of this Learning Adventure, please contact [email protected].
Posters
Posters can be a simple, low-cost method of transforming a store with learning-rich messages. You can choose a poster that aligns with the theme of the store – for example, a “Let’s Talk About Clothes” store in a clothing store, and a “Let’s Talk About Play” in a toy store.
Let's Talk About Clothes
Clothes Poster
Let's Talk About Play
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Let's Talk About Our Community
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Let's Talk About the City
DownloadTransit – such as time spent waiting for a bus – can present a valuable opportunity to share critical early learning messages with families about the importance of talking, reading, and singing. Adding advertisements to bus shelters and billboards is a great way to create a surround sound and amplify what you are already doing in other spaces across your community!
Transit Shelters
These designs can be added to transit shelters across your community. Each design includes key early learning information, and many include games for parents and caregivers to play with their little ones.
Billboards
Billboards can be an effective way to reach families with early learning messages. Individuals driving past a billboard have less time to read and process information, so our billboards are designed to be both simple and eye-catching.
Additional Resources
From transforming a space with colorful and engaging posters, to developing a social media campaign, we have open-source, free resources for organizations, businesses, partners, and more to use.
Learn More About Our Other Strategies
People
Training community members to share early learning messages with families.
Resources
Distributing literacy-rich resources to families.
Media
Creating a surround sound of early learning messages.
Social Media Graphics
Social media graphics can be an effective way to share key messages with families digitally. View and download our laundry-related social graphics below!
Laundry Social Graphic 1
DownloadLaundry Social Graphic 2
DownloadLaundry Social Graphic 3
DownloadClothes Social Graphic 1
DownloadClothes Social Graphic 2
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