This alphabet activity was created because my daughter adores the alphabet, she loves stamps, and I NEEDED 10 minutes to finish cleaning the bathrooms before my holiday guests arrived. She LOVED it and I wanted to say that while printables are great I know that for me printing something out can be cumbersome. I don’t have my printer out all the time and sometimes I am out of ink. I didn’t have time to make this a printable and I am glad for that now because it shows you that you don’t need it to be pretty and perfect to be useful and fun!
Gather your materials. You will need some paper, something to write on ( I love using clipboards), some letter stamps and stamp pad ( or stickers), and a marker.
Start by writing out the alphabet on a piece of paper leaving out some letters. I wrote out 5 sheets at once because I had a feeling ( and it was right) that my wee one would want to do a bunch.
Prepare the tools you are using with the sheets. You can also just have your little learner write the letters. I didn’t think my little one could accomplish that solo but in the days since we did that I think she might be able to. I am going to make some more sheets and repeat this activity, she loved it so much.
Let the fun begin! Adjust this activity to your child. If they struggle with some of the letters make sure that you have lots of letters they do not struggle with to balance out the success and challenge. If possible have the easy ones as the first few if you know there is a challenge ahead. If they are having a hard time sing the alphabet while touching each letter and when they get to a blank spot the song will act as a prompt. I quickly took pictures of the first sheet – ran next door and cleaned the bathroom while she yelled out which letters she was doing.
Then she called me in because she said she ” Made up an even better letter idea!” She grabbed a highlighter from her basket and started highlighting all the letters. This is a fun and easy way to work on letter formation anywhere but I’d only have kids this young (4) do it if they are interested. If they are resistant work on writing their name and more authentic writing like making signs, writing cards… anything that doesn’t make writing a chore. Start them out on the right foot. That said if they are like my daughter who is fond of writing and wants to do it, have the materials available and support them as they do.
Learning doesn’t only happen with perfect graphics in all sorts of colors so don’t stress about picture perfect printables. They are fun and can add excitement at times but learning will happen when the activity fits the child no matter how pretty something is.
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