How many times can your preschooler play Find Your Name? Answer: there is no limit to this preschool activity. Winner Winner Chicken Dinner! This preschool name find is a Breakfast Invitation secret weapon.
So, what makes this idea so great? Kids love seeing their names. (Like, really enjoy seeing their name.) And so do we! We use our names to mark our workout success, sign off on an email, and identify our Starbucks frappuccino. We find it especially funny when our name gets miswritten.
Let’s use names to help our children hold a marker, identify letters, and hold their hands steady to design a circle as they find their names.
RELATED: Looking for a way to minimize morning television? You will love our Breakfast Invitations.
Let’s talk about letters and the alphabet
Letters may have curved lines and also may have straight lines. Some letters even have slants, tunnels, and dots. Children must be encouraged to form lines and squiggles before they are asked to write their names. This name activity asks children to form a circle around their name. (Brilliant, isn’t it?)
The point is letters can be talked about way more than we initially thought. It is tempting to move right onto reading. But allow yourself (and your child) some time to dissect what letters look like first. I also compiled a collection of my favorite preschool alphabet activities to inspire ideas!
And you guessed it! Forming circles, lines, crosses, and squiggles encourages fine motor skills and correct pencil grip to help your toddler and preschooler feel more confident before writing their name.
Kickstart your morning routine with play.
PDF Startup Guide – A road map for executing mornings anchored in play, discovery, and learning.
PDF Activity Cards Set One and Two – Breakfast Invitations are play-based, hands-on, and designed with an intentional introduction to learning through play.
Books that encourage line formations
I adore this book, and my boys do too. It is neat to see all the different ways lines surround our environment and are in everyday objects.
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Lines that Wiggle is a great book to continue this conversation. You and your child will begin to notice things in your everyday life that you may not have thought much about before reading.
This is a timeless activity
This can be your first or 76th Breakfast Invitation. Put this idea on the table, and it will be a success. Better yet, find a long wall and hang it vertically. No matter what your preschooler’s plan of action is, they will dive right in. Play ideas for kids are best when they are kept simple.
RELATED: Which toys best encourage alphabet recognition with your toddler or preschooler? Here are my favorite toys to help children learn the alphabet.
Let’s set up this preschool name find!
- Lay out your white paper.
- Write a variety of names on the white paper. Include your child’s name multiple times, in multiple colors.
- Remember to tape this on a table, wall, or floor! Think about what your child enjoys or needs to change things up.
PRO TIP: Write the names with an uppercase first letter and lowercase for the rest.
LEVEL UP: Write the middle or last name for them to begin to practice with. Grab a marker for them and a cup of coffee for you.
Supplies
Like most supplies here at Days with Grey, we keep things simple. Purchase the paper roll once, and I will give you many uses.
White Paper Roll
This paper is a staple in our home. Place it on the table or a verticle surface. So many uses!
Washable Markers
Share these markers with your kids, or keep them for yourself. I am not one to judge; I like my own pack too.
Kids learn through play
Your children are now on the hunt to find their names. You can do this in a couple of different ways as you play this preschool name, which varies for ages and stages. Letter recognition can take time, and starting with your child’s name will kickstart learning.
Variations to play
- Allow your child to find their name and circle it. This practice helps strengthen small hands and improve fine motor skills.
- Call a name from the other room, and they run to find it.
- Add their name on Post-it Notes. Place them around the kitchen. Rather than circling their names, they find and match them to the white paper roll.
RELATED: Here is a list of my favorite indoor activities for kids.
Conversation starters
Mention what you notice about the first letter in their name. Your name begins with the letter H. Look! H has all straight lines.
Move your finger down the lines and show how they are straight. I wonder if any other letters show straight lines. Let’s look!
You can follow up by searching for the opposite. Now, search and find a letter with curves.
Remember, there is no rush to read. The more you explore the foundations of letters, the more you are helping your children become better thinkers. They are learning to step back and pay attention to details.
Next, be sure to head to this collection of name-recognition activities!
Preschool name find is the very best! When will you set this up for your toddler or preschooler?
FAQ for Preschool Name Find
You can teach your kids the alphabet with everyday conversations, regular practice, games, sensory bins, hands-on activities, and lots of play-based learning! Read this article to help better understand letter recognition.
If your child is not ready to draw a circle, try offering a highlighter to highlight the name. This variation will encourage pencil grip and grasping a marker to steady a steady hand. In addition to the modification, trace circles to get the rhythm and become familiar with the movement.
There are many ways to entertain your kids at home.. Encourage messy outdoor play, get creative with preschool arts and crafts projects, and let go of busy schedules. Use The Startup Guide to help take the guesswork out of your daily routine with kids.
