Recognize Uppercase and Lowercase Letters

• Write uppercase and/or lowercase on sticky notes and place them around the house.  Have your child find a given letter.  You may want to do uppercase and lowercase letters separately.  To add a challenge, when your child finds the letter have them tell you the sound the letter makes or a word that begins with that letter. 

• Have your child use the Electronic Alphabet Arc  on a device.

• Use the Alphabet Linking Chart and one of the following activities:

  • Read entire chart, say names of the letters and pictures

  • Read every other letter

  • Read it randomly as you quickly touch letters

  • Read while singing the alphabet song

Produce Letter Sounds

• Watch this video and practice producing letter sounds.

• Choose two letters to focus on. Have your child sort objects according to their beginning sound and associated letter.

  • Example:  Your child finds a blue crayon and a ball. They both start with the letter b and make the /b/ sound.

Recognize Rhyming Words

• Exercise, Rhyme, and Freeze Dance

• Give your child 2 words and ask them if they rhyme.  For example: (hat/sat) Do the words rhyme?   (sit/ jump) Do these words rhyme?

• Read any Dr. Seuss book and have your child listen for the rhyming words.

• Read a list of three words.  Have your child identify the one word that does not rhyme.

  • Example: run/fun/stop

Book Care and Awareness of Print 

• Watch this video on how to care for a book. 

• Watch this video on how to help your child become aware of print.

Write First Name

• Have your child practice writing a capital first letter and all other letters lowercase. Some ideas could be to use paint, markers, or chalk.

• Create a  Rice Writing Tray. Have your child practice writing their name with their finger, paintbrush, or pencil.

Letter formation

• Use a pencil, a golf pencil, or a crayon to form uppercase and lowercase letters.  A golf pencil is sometimes easier for smaller hands.

Cutting with Scissors

• Draw a line or wave line and have your child use scissors to cut on the line. 

• Use these steps to help your child learn how to properly use scissors:

  • scissors point away from the body

  • thumb goes on top (thumbs up!)

  • supporting fingers go on the bottom

  • the scissor-holding hand doesn’t really turn (or steer)

  • paper-holding hand turns and steers the paper

  • move the paper-holding hand as you cut

Pencil Grip

• Use this video to help your child learn the correct pencil grip.

• If your child is struggling with their pencil grip, try using small or broken crayons, golf pencils, or small pieces of chalk.  

• Using tools such a tweezers and clothes pins to pick up small items and move them will help build hand strength which will help your child's pencil grip.

• Stages of pencil grips with ages

Tracing

• Have your child practice tracing different types of lines, swirls, shapes, and zig zags.

• Write your child's first and last name and let them trace it using different colored crayons or markers.

Write Numbers 0 to 10

• Writing Numbers 0-10 Chant (video)

• Trace numbers 0-10 with expo marker.  Place around the house and find a given number.

Recognize Numbers 0 to 10

• Write numbers on sticky notes and place around the house.  Have your child find a number and tell you the number.  When they say the number they can collect the number. (Children should recognize numbers in random order as well as in order)

• Write number 0-10 in hopscotch boxes with side walk chalk.  As the child jumps in the box have them read the number. 

Rote Counting 0 to 30

• Count from 0-30 using different voices (whisper, low, slow, etc.)

• Balance on one foot and count to 30.  If you fall over, start back at 0.

• Play hide and seek.  The seeker counts out loud to 30 then looks for the hiders.

One-to-One Counting Object to 10

• Using a muffin tin or an ice cube tray have your child count a set of objects (pom-pom balls, goldfish, cereal, etc.) placing an object in the hole while counting out loud.  (This video shows the importance of one-to-one counting)

• Toss a beach ball back and forth, counting with each catch.  If you drop the ball, start back at 1.