From A-Z, these alphabet activities will not only teach your child the letters of the alphabet but also provide them with valuable opportunities to explore language through movement, science, sensory activities, and more.
If you're looking for creative ways to help your kids learn the alphabet or prepare for preschool or kindergarten, these hands-on ABC activities are perfect! They are fun and engaging, and they cover everything from letter recognition to letter sounds.
Get ready to have some hands-on fun!
Alphabet Activities for Preschoolers
Here are a few of the hands-on alphabet activities for preschoolers or kindergarten aged children that we have shared here on Messy Little Monster. We also have a lot of Alphabet Printables in our printable shop.
Alphabet Roads
Any kid who's a fan of cars will love this Alphabet Roads Letter Formation activity. It's so fun! Kids can trace the letters with their toy cars, crayons, pencils, and more. You can also turn these into playdough mats so they can practice forming their letters with playdough.
Rainbow Rice Sensory Writing Tray
Get your little ones comfortable with Practising Handwriting with this super fun and colourful rainbow rice sensory writing tray. Kids can use their fingers, a paintbrush, an unsharpened pencil, and other implements to trace their letters in the rice.
Rainbow Rice Sensory Writing Tray
This sand writing tray can be used in a similar way to the rainbow rice writing tray. Kids will love the feel of the sand on their fingers as they write letters in the sand.
Alphabet Tracing Cards
These printable alphabet tracing cards are great for teaching children letters of the alphabet or to use for tracing. There are 13 different sets available to include various seasons and themes.
Easter Egg Letter hunt
You don't have to wait for Easter to set up this Easter Egg Letter Hunt for the kids. They'll love it all year long. You'll need a set of foam alphabet letters or the alphabet printables, some plastic eggs, and somewhere to hide them. That's it! Have your kids identify each letter as they open their eggs. If you want to take it further, you can have them put the letters in order.
More Fun Alphabet Activities for Kids
Here is a list of many more ideas to help young children learn the alphabet. Kids will love these hands-on alphabet activities for toddlers, preschoolers and kindergarten aged children.
Elephant Letter Recognition
Your toddlers and preschoolers will have a blast with this Elephant Letter Recognition Activity by ABCs of Literacy. They can identify their capital and lowercase letters while feeding the peanuts to the elephant.
Alphabet Sensory Bottle
Alphabet beads may be too small for your toddler to play with, but they're the perfect material for adding to an interactive Alphabet Sensory Bottle like this one from Parenting Chaos. You can make one in less than 10 minutes, and they're mesmerising to watch. Have your toddler or preschooler identify the letters as they watch them float through the glitter-filled syrup or gel.
Tennis Racket and Ball Alphabet Match
Match capital and lowercase letters in this fun Tennis Alphabet Match activity from ABCs of Literacy. It's an interactive way to work on letter recognition and developing fine motor skills simultaneously.
Fizzy ABCs
Try this Fizzy Fine Motor ABCs activity from Parenting Chaos if you'd like to combine science and letter recognition. It's a fun activity for a hot day because these baking soda letters are frozen!
Alphabet Scavenger Hunt
Send the kids on an Alphabet Scavenger Hunt to find an item for each word of the alphabet! This printable activity from Artsy Fartsy Mama includes a version with suggested items and another version with just the letters so kids can fill in the items they find independently.
Alphabet Cookies
Kids love to pretend to bake, so why not bake up a batch of alphabet cookies? This Alphabet Cookies Pretend Play activity from Fantastic Fun and Learning is perfect for aspiring bakers and little foodies. After the "cookies" are "baked," kids can match them up with the plate with the correct letter.
Lego Duplo Alphabet Mats
Pull out your bins of Lego Duplos to make letters using the colorful bricks! These Lego Duplo Alphabet Mats from 123 Homeschool 4 Me are a brilliant way to get kids to practice the formation of capital letters.
Alphabet Fine Motor Activity
Practice those fine motor skills with this Alphabet Fine Motor Activity by 123 Homeschool 4 Me. Add a foam alphabet sticker to a clothespin with corresponding letters on the plate, and match them up!
Fruit Loop Alphabet Snack Mats
What kid wouldn't love these fun Fruit Loop Alphabet Snack Mats from Preschool Play and Learn? Form letters with the cereal pieces, and fill in the pictures with the appropriate colour of cereal. Plus, kids can enjoy a bite now and then as they work.
Alphabet Lacing Cards
Work on fine motor skills while learning the alphabet with these colourful Alphabet Lacing Cards from Homeschool Share. Don't worry if you don't have a plastic quilling needle—a shoelace works just fine!
Alphabet Tracing with Rocks
Practice Alphabet Tracing with Rocks in this awesome activity by And Next Comes L. Draw chalk letters on the sidewalk or driveway, and let the kids trace them with small pebbles.
Alphabet Exercise Cards
Gross motor movement is just as important for little ones. Encourage fitness while practising the alphabet with these super fun ABC Exercise Cards by Homeschool Share.
Alphabet Hop
Here's another ABC activity by Simple Fun for Kids to get the kids up and moving. When your kids need to get their wiggles out, head outside to draw a letter board and have an Alphabet Hop. Call out letters for the kids to hop to... a single letter for both feet on one letter, or double letters to move both feet to different boxes.
Magnetic Letter Matching
Parents of toddlers and preschoolers probably have plenty of magnetic letters on the fridge or dry-erase boards. Grab an inexpensive cookie sheet from the Dollar Store to make a Magnetic Letter Matching activity like this one from Simple Fun for Kids. Simply write the letters on the cookie sheet, and let the kids match their magnets to them.
Shaving Cream Letters
Making a mess can be fun and educational. Combine shaving cream and foam ABCs to make this fun Alphabet Shaving Cream activity by Active Littles. Call out letters, and stack them with shaving cream layers in between each. It's squishy, messy, and fun!
Alphabet Sponge Sensory Play
Alphabet sponges are a great tool to add to your arsenal for helping kids learn their ABCs. This Alphabet Sponge Sensory Play activity by And Next Comes L is a fun way for kids to cool down and learn their letters. They can use the wet sponges to stamp out letters on the deck or toss them at each other for a fun water bomb game.
Jello Alphabet Play
Here's another messy alphabet activity from In the Kids Kitchen. This Jello Alphabet Play is super simple to set up. Just add alphabet beads to prepared Jello, and let those little hands get to work squishing, scooping, and digging in the Jello to find all the letters. If you're worried about your child swallowing the alphabet beads, use large letters instead.
Tracing Letters with Slime
Have you ever tried Tracing Letters with Slime? The Soccer Mom Blog activity is a great way to combine letter formation practice with something that all kids love—gooey, stretchy slime!
Pop-It Learning Activities
Pop-Its are all the rage with kids—even tweens and teens love them! Add the alphabet letters to a Pop-It to practice letter identification, spelling, beginning letter sounds, and so much more. Kids will love these Pop-It Learning Activities by Teach Me, Mommy!
Crystal Letters
Borax crystal projects are always interesting for kids to watch. Crystalize pipe cleaner letters to add to your alphabet manipulatives. These Crystal Letters by Books and Giggles are sure to be a hit, both in making them and using them for alphabet practice.
We hope you find these 23 hands-on alphabet activities for preschoolers, toddlers and kindergarten aged children to be helpful tools for your child’s early learning.
Don't forget to pin this post so you'll have plenty of ideas ready to practice letters with your child!
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