Looking for fun ways to teach your child how to write/learn the letters

[MJN]

of the alphabet. Would love some alphabet craft ideas as well.

Many thanks!

Molly (who is asking for a friend)

[WendyK]

Have you taken a look at Handwriting Without Tears?

http://www.hwtears.com/

They have all sorts of "fun" things for learning the letters.

[whitestavern]

I never used this book, but it was recommended to me.

[OhElizabeth]

Alphabet Art by Judy Press is what I used at that age. It's published by Williamson, who has a whole series of books (Big Art for Little Hands, Zoo Art, etc.) that I like. For each letter of the alphabet, Alphabet Art has a craft using the letter itself, limerick, fingerplays or kinesthetic games, and another related craft (alligators when you study A, for instance). It's something you can do as a letter of the week study and do a little bit each day. It's just a lot of fun, easy to implement, and will make for many happy memories. :)

BTW, something I didn't do with my dd that I'd probably do with this next one is to make felt or sandpaper letters for them to trace with their fingers. Or you could just glue yarn onto a card in the shape of the letter, something for them to FEEL.

[Leat]

My boys liked to practice on the chalk board. Made it more exciting than just copying and tracing dotted lines.

They also liked to practice by learning to spell their own name and names of family members.

Another idea is to practice with painting the letters with watercolors. Be sure and have lots of newspaper on the table to catch drips.lol

Write the letters in sand with a stick.

In warmer weather, an old paint brush with just water on the driveway.

Just some ideas we have used.

Leat

[Sue G in PA]

has a craft for each letter. I use it in conjunction w/ MFW K for my ds5. Also try cookie dough letters, soft pretzel letters (Family Fun magazine had a recipe for this that was really yummy...you could search their website for soft pretzel dough). Tracing the letter in salt or sand, making play doh letters, finding sticks outside that you could put together to form letters, sidewalk chalk on the driveway/sidewalk, wipe-off boards are fun for little ones, letter stencils, letter stamps, letter stickers. Just some ideas we have used/will use!

[jail warden]

I made a base line, mid line and top line with masking tape on the floor and I had my kids take a car and 'drive' the car making letters in that area. Also, make a salt or sand box, which is a black bottom(construction paper) with sand or salt poured over it. When you draw with your finger the letter shows up in the sand/salt. Finger paints would be another great tool, along with sidewalk chalk when it becomes nice this spring/summer. HTH!

[jail warden]

I also used to do letter of the week for PreK. Reading books and doing something fun with the letter, like we went to see a circus on C week, it just happened to be in town!

[claire up north]

We shaped lots of letters using play-doh and displayed them on cookie sheets. The kids really liked this. You can have them look at the letters themselves and figure out how to make it. This can help the shape imprint on their mind more than just copying how you make the letter.

Use a cookied sheet with raised edges and fill with uncooked rice. Kids can use pencils, fingers, or sticks to write. This one got a bit messy, so be prepared with your broom! :)

[Sue G in PA]

My dc love using the self-hardening clay to make things. I'm going to have ds5 make a clay letter each week (we study one letter each week w/ MFW K), let it harden and then have him paint it. We'll find some way to put it on display!

[Tonia]

Here are some activities - Pre-reading Activities (http://docs.google.com/View?docid=dg365m3k_13g5n9jdc2)

[MJN]

help to my friend!!!!

Thanks a bunch!!

Molly

[Eliana]

Here is an inexpensive (and reproducible!) book that has been fun for some of my kids...

http://www.rainbowresource.com/proddtl.php?sid=1203922314-1245067&subject=&id=019812


Here's the description from Rainbow Resource

A reproducible activity book to help liven up your beginning phonics program. There’s an easy-to-do craft project for each letter of the alphabet. Patterns are included and materials are simple, around-the-house fare. Even though crafts are kept simple for younger children, there is plenty of variety here; Fabric Fish is done using fabric scraps, Movable Monkey is colored and uses brads to achieve moving parts; Happening Hat has children decorating their own wearable hats. Along with each letter, there’s also a page with that letter and project object to color and clip. After the whole alphabet is completed, these become a book of letters. A correlated “Literature Link” suggests a book to read with your younger child and several additional activities are suggested to “round out” your letter study. For example, the letter “C” project is sponge-painting a black caterpillar. The materials list tells you everything you’ll need, from construction paper to scissors! A full-size pattern for the caterpillar is included. The Literature Link is The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle. The booklet page to color has an uppercase letter “C” and, appropriately, a small caterpillar chewing into it. Suggested additional activities are “Find a caterpillar to observe” and “Pantomime a caterpillar becoming a butterfly.” The book also contains reproducible alphabet flashcards and alphabet match game pieces in the front. All in all, an easy-to- implement, lively supplement for learning the letters.

[Lorna]

A very traditional one is to teach the letter formations by writing them in sand. A cat litter tray filled with sand is great for this (with a little water added). Depending on the child, they can use their finger or a stick.