Zebra Z !!

This letter of the week craft is really geared for older kids – but as I started making it my toddler was eager to help. He loves letters and Z is a favorite right now.

1. Gather your materials. You will need 2 pieces of white paper, some black paint, a black marker,scissors, some black pipe cleaners, something to paint with like a sponge or brush, and a piece of construction paper.
2. Draw or have your child draw a fat Z
3. Draw a Zebra head, don’t worry about it being perfect!
4. Start painting the stripes.
5. Glue pipe cleaner pieces on as the mane, you could use paper strips or yarn for this too. If I re-did this I’d skip drawing the mane on the zebra head and just have the child add the yarn or pipe cleaners in their own spots. With the man drawn on my son was very focused on matching them up and got frustrated when he wasn’t able to. He was not even two yet and that frustration was all my fault, by not having the mane would have aliviated that. 
6. Cut the Z out .
7. Glue everything onto a piece of construction paper!

Playing with letters, seeing letters and print in their environment is a really important part of early literacy. Providing a print rich environment helps to teach your child that words are not just for stories that letters, words, and print is used by us in practically everything we do. Point letters out to your child, have scavenger hunts – just have fun and you will be amazed by how naturally they will learn.