ABCs

Go on a letter hunt!

As your child learns how to identify and write specific letters, search for these letters during scavenger hunts at home, in the car, or wherever you are: stores, museums, the doctor’s office—everywhere!

Research shows that children benefit from systematic letter instruction that supports their ability to recognize, label, and write the letters of the alphabet. You can support your child by reading alphabet books together, playing word games (“let’s think of every word we know that starts with /b/, like ball”), and reading together.

Draw with different textures.

Fill a some sandwich baggies with a variety of materials, like sand, shaving cream or shampoo. Lay the bags flat and take turns drawing letters on them. Draw a letter  and ask your child to name it. Say a letter out loud for your child to draw. Ask: how do the different textures feel?

Using fingers to draw is a great way to practice fine motor skills, those small movements in our hands that are necessary for using pencils and pens. The different textures make for a fun experience that can especially help tactile learners.

Dry Erase ABCs with with Brain Quest Write and Erase: Preschool Skills

Use the white board to play a guessing game. Write a letter with the board facing you and then flip it around with a big “TA DA!”. First, challenge your child to identify the letters. Then once they master that add a speed element by seeing how quickly they can shout out the letter name. Go out of order for an extra challenge.

Dry erase boards are great for writing practice and kids love using them. Try giving your child a small wet cloth so they can practice and erase, practice and erase, over and over again. If you are having trouble erasing dried marker lines, try writing over the line with the marker again and then erasing.

Name Game with Brain Quest Write and Erase: Preschool Skills

Ask your child to say the first letter of their name out loud. Write it on the white board while they watch, then pass the white board to your child. If they’re a beginner at writing letters, encourage them to trace over yours. If they are more advanced, have them erase your letter to draw a version of their own. Continue for each letter of their name.

Kids love writing their name, and those letters are often the first they learn to write. Using that personal connection will help engage them in the activity and get them ready for school.