Ready for a low-prep preschool name game? Here we go! Name hide and seek is a hands-on way to introduce letters of the alphabet in a meaningful (and super fun) way. What’s not to love about a name activity that also encourages the element of surprise? Did you say nothing? I couldn’t agree more. This easy preschool activity has us all giggling and learning over morning coffee. Because you know. Breakfast Invitations are the bomb.
How do you teach the letters of the alphabet?
Teach your toddler and preschooler the alphabet, starting with the letters in his name. Children take ownership of the letters of their names. They are proud to know that the letters they are learning belong to them. This can be a powerful way to learn to read through play.
RELATED: Love name activities? Great! Here are 15 activities for name recognition.
What makes this preschool name game unique
My three-year-old LOVES the element of surprise. Name Hide and Seek did not disappoint his thrill-seeking heart. As he reaches into the bag to scoop up a letter, he predicts which one he was about to grab. I think this is a W, mommy!
As children become more comfortable playing with letters, they will also recognize that some letters have lines and others have curves. They will also see that some letters have both! We like to play this alphabet sorting activity to reinforce this practice.
I like to keep a collection of alphabet toys mixed into our everyday play for more opportunities for independent play.
RELATED: Read this simple guide how to introduce letter recognition.
Supply list
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You will need a brown paper lunch bag and the supplies listed below.
Magnetic Letter Kit
This is a more sophisticated letter collection with a carry case to sort each letter. We use this set when wanting to differentiate vowels and consonants.
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.
White Paper Roll
This paper is a staple in our home. Place it on the table or a verticle surface. So many uses!
What if I don’t already own magnetic letters?
No letters? No problem! Try adding a different letter on a small piece of paper. Fold it in half and toss it into the bag. Taking small letters or unfolding small pieces of paper are great for fine motor practice.
Set up this preschool name game
- First, tape your white paper to the table.
- Next, gather a collection of letters to spell out your child’s name. Remember! You can also use small pieces of paper.
- Put the alphabet letters into the brown paper bag.
- Finally, grab a marker and write your child’s name. Ideally, you want to use an uppercase letter followed by a lowercase. Don’t overthink this! If you only have upper or all lowercase letters, begin with what you already own. You can always revisit this same play idea down the road.
- Invite your child to pick the letters from the paper bag and match them to the letter written on paper.
Let’s level up this name activity for big kids
For children who already recognize the letters of their name, begin introducing the letters in your last name.
Another variation is to draw simple pictures and hide the beginning sounds in the bag.
We love name activities for kids! Here are a few other easy ideas that we have done in the past for name recognition:
Who has time to search for ideas?
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FAQ
It is common for children (and adults) to shut down when there is too much new content at once. Rather than introduce all 26 letters simultaneously, begin by introducing the letters of your child’s name. These name recognition activities are a terrific starting place!
Preschool should be a time to create and explore new ideas. We want our early learners to transport objects, discover color combinations, sort, classify, design, connect, and investigate new ideas. We can do this with hands-on preschool activities – NOT worksheets. Use these preschool activity cards with your child.
We can step back when a child struggles to memorize letter names. Begin talking about the letters you notice in your environment and invite your child to play with the letters in their name. Take learning letters slow to honor your child’s pace. Meet your child at the stage they are by identifying a few letters at a time. Add more letters as your child develops. My online workshop for parents will take the mystery out of how to help your child learn.
