I love this activity for early readers and writers because it provides lots of opportunity to develop alphabet awareness whilst also exercising and strengthening fingers – in three different ways! Plus, it uses everyday materials that you quite possibly already have in your home or classroom.
To get started you will need;
- A large, plastic lid
- Playdough or silly putty
- A short pencil
- Small beads
- A set of alphabet cards – download our free cards below
Activity instructions:
Finger strengthening part one – have your child flatten and smooth the playdough to cover the surface of the lid.
Next, invite your child to use the pencil to ‘write’ each letter into the playdough surface.
Finally, have your child cover the letter with the small beads – so great for fine motor control!
Once the letter is complete, have your child remove the beads, re-smooth the playdough and start again with a new letter.
Download our free, 3 page alphabet cards document here. Download or save the PDF to your own computer. Open the PDF and print. When printing, select “Fit to printable area” (or similar) to ensure the page fits with your printer type and local paper size (these have been created at A4 size). For durability, print onto matte photo paper or lightweight cardstock and laminate. Personal, non commercial use only.
Christie Burnett is an early childhood teacher, presenter, writer and the editor of Childhood 101. More importantly, she is a Mum who believes wholeheartedly in the value of children learning through play, the importance of quality early education, and the togetherness of family.
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