When in doubt, double the size. This giant alphabet dot-to-dot is a fun way to review alphabetical order and practice pencil grip with toddlers and preschoolers. – I know it! So much wrapped in one simple idea. Bring on this giant alphabet dot-to-dot because it is a low-prep alphabet activity that preschoolers enjoy.
When should you start teaching your kids the alphabet?
Allow me to help ease your mind and put the breaks on learning the alphabet.
Learning the names of the letters can come at any time from 2.5 to five years of age. This task is learning the letter names in their purest form and is also known as memorizing.
I suggest surrounding your preschooler’s play with alphabet supplies such as these and allowing the letter recognition to come with time.
RELATED: Curious about letter recognition? Here’s how and where to begin.
Who has time to search for ideas?
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Supplies
You don’t need much to make this preschool alphabet activity come to life. Likely, most of the supplies are in your kitchen junk drawer. (please tell me you have one too) You can also use dot stickers if you don’t want to make your own dots.
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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.
Why is this alphabet dot-to-dot alphabet activity valuable?
Fine motor games will increase strength for cutting, pencil grip, drawing, writing, and pasting later in life. These simple hand movements will help with pencil grip.
In Kindergarten, students using the Common Core Standards will be asked to recognize and name all upper- and lowercase letters of the alphabet.
Should your preschooler master the alphabet now? Absolutely not. But it means you can begin exposing your preschooler, so letters start to look familiar.
RELATED: Check out these 50+ Fine Motor Activities!
How to set up
Activities for kids should take less than 3-5 minutes to set up.
- I tape down a large piece of paper.
- Next, I add dots with my marker.
- I label each dot with a letter from the alphabet.
That’s all!
Invite your preschooler to begin connecting the dots in alphabetic order. This idea is a great way to practice recognizing the letters of the alphabet! As your preschooler connects the dots, encourage them to sing the ABCs.
PRO TIP: Include a strip of painter’s tape with the alphabet listed for your preschooler to use as a reference.
Alternative ways to play:
- Connect numbers.
- Connect words to a simple story.
- Draw lines to connect shapes.
- Connect rhyming words.
Hands-on alphabet activities are fun to play and easy to set up. Don’t miss these other hands-on letter recognition activities.
FAQ
As a former educator, I begin with the letters in your child’s name. Once the letters in your child’s name are mastered, move into the most commonly used letters. For example, T, L, and M will be taught before X and Q. As we talk about each letter, we will also mention the letter name and the sounds the letter makes and pay attention to the design of the letter symbol, looking for curved and straight lines. I wrote up everything you need to know about letter recognition for you to have a simple guide to come back to.
You can teach your kids the alphabet with everyday conversations, regular practice, games, sensory bins, hands-on activities, and lots of play-based learning!
In the classroom, teachers focus on repetition, practice, singing, movement, name recognition, and other creative ways to involve young kids in learning the alphabet.
