Letter Recognition Activities for Preschoolers

Supporting your child's education is one of the key roles in parenting. This can span the continuum from exclusive homeschooling to helping your child with homework after school. No matter how much time you have available to give to your child in this area, making the most of every learning opportunity is something any parent can do. If you have a preschooler at home, the opportunities abound. Increasing your little one's recognition of letters is easy to do through a variety of fun yet educational activities. You will find that you can blend them seamlessly into your normal daily routine.

"What's My Name?" Game. For this game you will need large wooden letters that spell your child's name mounted near his bed. You can buy unfinished letters and paint them in various bright and exciting patterns or colors. As you greet your child in the morning, pick him up and say, "Good morning Apple!" As your child looks at you quizzically, you can say, "What's wrong?" Once he stifles his giggles and tells you that you got his name wrong, carry him over to the wooden letters on the wall and say, "Oops, I did get that wrong! I see here your name is Adam. A-D-A-M. Silly Mommy! Good morning, Adam." Each day greet your child with a new but unexpected name. It will become an eagerly anticipated morning ritual that will start his day off with a smile.

Grocery Store Treasure Hunt. The next time you head to the grocery store with your child, consider turning this normally mundane task into a treasure hunt. Before you leave the house, collaboratively create a "map" with your preschooler. Using colorful markers, draw 5-10 large circles in a random order on a standard piece of paper. Write one letter in each circle (use lower case for an even greater challenge). Next, create a "path" by drawing a line to connect each circle with the next. At the end of the final path, draw a treasure chest. Attach a pencil to a clipboard and hand the "map" to your child when you enter the store. Collaboratively look for each letter in the order they appear on the map. Check off each one as they are found. Share a "treasure treat" (either brought from home or store bought) for all your hard work once the hunt is complete.

Bathtub Letter Basketball. Foam bath letters are a wonderful addition to your tub toys. When wet, they stick to the walls of your tub or tile. For Bathtub Letter Basketball you will need foam letters (upper and lower case for extra challenge) and a plastic bowl or container. To play, line the letters up on the wall of the tub. For children who are just learning to recognize their letters, place the letters in alphabetical order. Have your child sit at one end of the tub and allow the bowl to float at the other end. As you call out each letter, have your child select the correct letter and then attempt to toss it into the floating bowl. Add some waves for increased difficulty and fun! If your child is just starting out with letter recognition, you can slowly sing the ABC song while pointing to each individual letter. This will allow them to select the correct one when you get to that part of the song. As your child ages, you can use this same game for phonics practice, asking him to select letters by their sound rather than their name.

No matter what activity you employ, it is important to maintain the perspective that your overall goal is to facilitate and encourage learning opportunities rather than force them. Children develop a love for learning when they are surrounded by adults who ponder, investigate, and explore the world right along with them. Simply look to see what peaks your child's interest, and follow him down that path. If you do so, you will find yourself on an exciting and adventure-filled journey that is both educational and fun.