Writing can seem like a chore to kids. While writing is important, children don’t always understand why they need to practice writing their letters correctly. Here are some fun ideas to make letter practice more fun for your little one.
1. Clay
Flatten out some clay or play dough, and use a sharpened pencil or a sharp clay tool to carve the letters into the clay. You can use different colors or shapes. Try making a pyramid with the clay and writing the words on the sides. Make a skyscraper and write the words in the windows. There are many ways you can incorporate this fun activity into your lesson plan and the theme you’re focusing on. I prefer polymer clay as kids can use and reuse it many times without worrying about it drying out. If they make something they are particularly proud of, you can bake it for them, and they can keep the hardened craft forever.
2. Sand
You can go to the beach or a sandbox and practice writing letters in a new location. You can also bring a small bag of craft sand into your house and put it in a tray. Your child can trace the letters into the sand. They can also use different colors of sand. They can trace letters on paper with glue and sprinkle sand over it if they want a more permanent creation. Be careful with sand as sometimes it can get dragged throughout your house. Designate a certain room for use and try to keep it in that area.
3. Shaving Cream
Use shaving cream to trace letters. The child can spray it to trace the letters. But a more popular option is to spread out the shaving cream and have your learner write letters into it with their finger. Just make sure they don’t confuse shaving cream for whipped cream by trying to eat it. If they can't resist taking a lick, try using whipped cream or icing. They could also practice writing by piping letters onto an actual cake, or a fake one if you don't have time to bake a real cake. To keep them from eating their weight in cake, maybe have a bake sale or bake cupcakes for your local fire department. They could pipe different sayings onto each cupcake to practice their letters while also being generous.
4. Dirt
Dirt is free! Go outside and write into the ground with a stick. You might need to loosen up the dirt first so the child has an easier time writing in it. You might have different types of soil where you live. Your learner can compare writing in topsoil with writing in clay. Gather some dirt up and put it in a tray. Have them use it inside if the weather outside is not conducive to working outdoors.
5. Chalk
Kids love chalk and there are so many things that can be written on with chalk. Sidewalks and chalkboards are just the beginning. You can write on the walls or a table now that there’s chalkboard paint. But even if a surface hasn’t been designed for chalk, it’s not too hard to clean up chalk off a wall. So I say go for it, draw your letters on the refrigerator.
6. Dry-erase Board
Sometimes just switching it up and using something other than paper can keep your child engaged in the task of writing and letter practice. Try using a dry-erase board to do the letter practice. Switch up the marker colors. You can also make many things into dry-erase boards by using laminating paper or just recycled plastic from packaging.
7. Watercolor
Watercolor paint is easy to clean up and can be used on many surfaces. You can paint it on a white shirt and throw it in the wash. Have your little one paint directly onto the countertop. Paint on their arm, leg, or stomach. And of course, you can paint on paper.
8. Crayons or markers or paint
Speaking of writing on paper, sometimes just changing what you’re using to write can help to keep them writing longer. They can use a pencil, quill, crayons, markers, or paint to write their letters. I did an activity with a four-year-old where we used charcoal writing on rocks. He loved it. They like tracing and retracing letters with multiple colors. Mixing paint can be combined with letter learning as you compare how the color changes when you write yellow over blue.
9. Write on different materials
Instead of using a different material to write, you can write with different materials. Write the words on cardboard, bubble wrap, or even the window. A dry-erase marker on the window can be a fun activity and comes off easily. Look into your trash and use some of the material there so there’s not unneeded waste. Here is a cute way to practice tracing the letters on wood. This could be used again and again. If you're practicing Montessori, it's a great way to incorporate natural materials.
10. Seasonal Materials
Keep the seasons in mind as you’re thinking of activities. Snow is a great material to write on, make sure to give your little one a glove if they will be tracing into the snow with their finger. You can also get some food dye and water into a spray bottle. Write on leaves or crumbled them up and use them to trace out letters. Take the new spring blossoms from the ground and use them. Trace letters with glue and stick the blossoms onto the glue. Write in ice cream before it melts. This makes the activity both fun and gives the child a time limit.
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