Preschool Activities: Use Snacks And Crafts To Teach ABCs
Everyone knows that it is important to teach children the
letters of the alphabet. After all, it is clearly an important
building block for learning to read and other early education
milestones.
Even children who know their alphabet need to be regularly
reminded and challenged with the letters in various order.
The challenge is finding a way to teach preschoolers that is
both effective and fun. Most early childhood educators do not
recommend buying flashcards or expensive educational tools.
Effective preschool education makes learning fun and friendly.
There are three simple methods you need to employ for effective
preschool learning and these can be done with things you already
have in your own home. Young children learn best if you use
these three simple methods: see it, say it, experience it.
This means that in order to teach your preschooler the alphabet
you need to let them see the letters — both in order and out of
order. Then you must say the letter and the child must also say
it. Finally, in order for the child to really understand the
letters of the alphabet he must also experience it. This means
employing the senses.
You can use food and crafts to help your child experience the
letters of the alphabet by seeing the shape and creating the
shape in three-dimensions as well as eating food that either
starts with the chosen “letter” or is in the shape of the
letter.
For example, why not have your child munch on carrots and candy
corn while gluing cotton balls into the shape of the letter “C”?
Or perhaps blow bubbles, glue beans in the shape of a “B”, and
then eat banana splits?
Some other ideas include:
W snacks like waffles, whipped cream, and watermelon; Y snacks
like yogurt, yellow cake, and yeast rolls; and Z snacks like
zucchini bread, Zesta crackers, and zwieback toast.
Making three dimensional art projects using kite strings and
kidney beans for “K”; leaves, lace, lima beans, lids, letter
stamps, and shoe laces for “L”; and play money, material,
macaroni, and moon shapes for “M”.
Be creative and let your child’s imagination roam free in your
kitchen and with your craft supplies. Once you start looking
around your home (and grocery store) for alphabet teaching
“tools” you might be surprised at how many ways you can teach
your child the alphabet.
While teaching your child the alphabet is an important part of
teaching your child to read and preparing for their education,
it does not need to be difficult, boring, or expensive for you
or your child. It can be fun and easy if you use the world
around you and foods and crafts you have in your home.
About the Author: Deanna Mascle shares many ABC learning
activities and ABC Games at her http://howtoteachabcs.info blog.