As well-meaning parents we buy workbooks for our kids and have our kids sit quietly and trace letters over and over. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with this and, in fact, we provide these worksheets for free in our kindergarten section.
Sometimes, though, you’ll want to make this activity more fun. Here are some new ways in which you can help your kids learning to write the letters of the alphabet more fun.
Shaving foam and finger paints
Spray shaving cream on a tray or table and help your kids write their name or a letter in the foam. Or use finger paints to dip a finger in and learn to write letters on a sheet of paper.
Play-Doh, pile cleaners and Lego blocks
Build the words. Use play-doh or pipe cleaners to shape each letter and have your kids repeat the same letter. Use different colors to repeat the words. The same goes for the Lego blocks. Use them to shape letters, either horizontally or vertically. Then have your kids create the same letters using similar blocks.
Letter Search
Write down pairs of each letter on cards. Then select 10 pairs from the pile. Divide the pile in two – separating the letters. Then hide one of the piles of letters around the house. Then give your child the second pile and have them find the matching letters. When they find the letters, have them shout out the name of the letter. “I found an H!”
Make it a race
Lay out the letters on the floor where you have some space – living room, family room, a hallway. Then start the race. You shout out the name of a letter and have your child find and bring it back as fast as they can.
Tricks to help your kids remember letters
Fifty-two letter shapes are a lot for young students to keep track of. Check out these clever clues for teaching tricky capital letters courtesy of Kara DeBonis, a preschool supervisor in Yardville, New Jersey.
The letter B is a line with a double bubble.
The letter D is a line with one big belly.
The letter E is for exercise -- two arms and a leg.
The letter H is two roads with a bridge across.
The letter Q is a wheel with a kickstand.
The letter T is an "I" whose shoes fell off.
The letter Y is shaped just like a necktie.
