LETTER RECOGNITION

Name Puzzle: Make a name puzzle. Write your child's name on a paper as a model. Now write it again and cut between each letter to form small letter cards. Mix up the small cards and have your child match each letter card to a letter in his/her name.

Letter Hunt: Go on a Letter Hunt. Walk around the house and see if you can find objects that begin with each letter of the alphabet.

Alphabet Song Variations: Sing the Alphabet Song – slowly, loudly, fast, softly, etc.

Alphabet with Pauses: Recite the alphabet BUT pause between each letter. (This can be very difficult for young children.)

Magazine Letter Search: Pick a letter or use the letters from your child's name- look through magazines for objects that begin with the chosen letter(s).

Magnetic Letter Names: Use magnetic letters to write your child's name, a friend's name, etc.

Alphabetical Order Challenge: Tell your child to set the magnetic letters in alphabetical order. Distract your child by asking questions then tell him/her to go back to work. Try to have your child figure out the next letter without having to go back to the beginning of the alphabet each time.

Alphabet Walk: Let your child write the alphabet on a sheet of paper. Then go for a walk together and cross off each letter as your see an item that begins with that letter.

Letter Hopping Game: Write a single letter on paper – make 5 or 6 papers with different letters. Now scatter these papers on the floor. Secure them with a little tape. Now have your child hop to the letter you name.

Name Spelling Hop: Repeat the activity above using the letters of your child's name. Have him/her hop to the letters in order of the spelling of his/her name. (To make it more difficult, add 2 or 3 extra letters not in your child's name).

Magazine Letter Collection: Have your child cut letters from magazines. Save the letters in zip loc bags.

Bedroom Sign Creation: Use the cut letters from above to create a fun sign for your child's bedroom.

ABC Book Project: Make an ABC book together. This will take time. Write one letter per page then either glue a magazine picture or have your child draw a picture of an object that begins with that letter.

Letter Race Track: Cut out large letters and tape them on the floor. Allow your child to "drive" a toy car or truck around the letters as you say the name. This could also include the letters in your child's name.

Packing Noodle Letter Hunt: Save packing noodles from a delivery. Keep them in a box. Hide several magnetic letters in the noodles. Have your child go on a letter hunt for the letters hidden in the noodles. When a letter is pulled from the box, have your child name the letter. If he/she is able, have him/her say the letter sound and/or a word that begins with that letter.

Clothespin Alphabet: If you have a package of "old fashion" wooden clothespins, write one letter on the end of each clothespin. Then string up a string or yarn between two chairs and encourage your child to clip the clothespins to the string in alphabetical order. Later your child can make up words with the letter clips and clip the pins on the string to form words.

Clothespin Flash Card Matching: Using the clothespins from the above activity, give your child a set of alphabet flash cards. Encourage your child to match the clothespin with the corresponding letter to its matching flash card. Then have your child clip the clothespin to the flashcard. (This activity also works on fine motor skills.)