How to Teach Letters by Making an Alphabet Collage with Your Preschool Child

This activity is a fun and easy way to teach your toddler about letters of the alphabet. One of the best ways to get children to learn is to make the topic relevant to them. In this activity, you will help your toddler pick out things starting with a particular letter and arrange them in a collage.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Some old magazines, catalogs, or other media to cut up.
• Safety scissors
• Glue stick
• Poster board or construction paper
• Washable markers

1. Pick a letter to work with. You may already be working with your preschooler on a particular letter. I will be starting with "A" in this activity with my son. Using the washable markers, draw the letter you chose as big as you can on the poster board or construction paper.

2. Talk to your child about the letter. Mention any of her favorite things that start with it. For my son, I would mention that "airplane" and "apple" begin with the letter "A." Talk about what sound the letter makes. Then ask your child if she can think of more words that start with the letter.

3. Look through the magazines and catalogs with your preschooler. Ask him to find items that start with your letter. You can help him along if needed by pointing to an item that starts with the letter and naming it for him, asking if he thinks it starts with your letter. Help him cut out the items he finds and chooses for his collage.

4. Now help your child glue on the cut outs in the shape of the letter you drew on your paper. She can also draw on extra items with the markers, and sign the bottom of the collage with her name and/or a hand tracing.

5. Write the date on the back of the item for memory's sake and hang it somewhere in the house where it can be appreciated for the beautiful work of art it is.

Tips & Warnings

• Focusing on one letter at a time makes the activity most effective. Giving your preschooler too much new information at once might cause him to just tune you out.
• Please remember to rate this article if you enjoyed it. Thank you for your support.
• Always take care when children are using scissors. Explain to your little one that she can only use scissors when Mommy or Daddy are watching or helping.

[arwen1964]

on 5/8/2008 Very well-written.