How to Teach Letter Recognition with Letter A Activities

Letter A activities are a great way to get your toddler or preschooler on his way to learning letter recognition. By planning a week full of letter A activities, your child will be able to see the letter repeatedly and learn about the sound made by the letter A.

Instructions

1. Print out large letter A templates (see resource section below). These cut outs can be used in a variety of letter A activities to improve letter recognition.

2. Use one of the letter A templates to make a collage. Color the letter A. Cut out pictures from magazines or clip art of items that start with the letter A. I usually place the collage on the inside of my son's door after he falls asleep. When he wakes up he can see the letter of the week and all of the things that start with that letter.

3. 

   Use blue painter's tape to put the letter A on the floor. Have your child trace the letter with his finger, drive a toy car along the letter, or line toys along it. This is one of the letter A activities that can be used with any letter of the alphabet.

4. 

   Make apple prints. Cut an apple in half. Dip in paint and use as a stamp to create pictures.

5. 

   Make homemade applesauce. Peel, core, and slice several apples. Place in a saucepan with some water. Cook over medium heat until the apples are soft. Remove from heat and mash. Add sugar and cinnamon to taste.

6. 

   Take a trip to the zoo to see the animals. Take photos of the animals and make a collage or animal book.

7. 

   Serve snacks that start with the letter A. Apples, applesauce, or ants on a log are good choices.

8. Make animal masks, puppets, and other crafts. Focus on animals that start with the letter A such as anteaters, antelope, and alligators.

9. Make a letter A book. Use one of the letter A templates as the cover. Include items that start with the letter A.

Tips & Warnings

• When making homemade applesauce, make sure the apples have cooled slightly before letting kids mash them.

• I used a smoothie making attachment on my hand mixer to finish mashing the apples. You could also use a blender or food processor.

Resources

• Letter Patterns