We love learning through play at our house. It’s a natural way for kids to learn new things, and since they’re having fun, they don’t mind practicing the skills over and over again.
Today, I’m sharing five of our favorite ABC games. These all utilize our homemade letter cards, so you will need to make your own set first. But don’t worry, it’s really simple!
How to Make Homemade Letter Cards
Homemade letter cards are a fun addition to our homeschool. They’re inexpensive, and fairly durable. You’ll need:
- 26 Index Cards
- 1 marker (like a Sharpie)
To make the cards, just write one large letter on the unlined side of each card. I use all upper case letters for these games, but you could do lower case if you’d like.
You can also do two sets of cards, one with capital letters and one with lower case. Then you could mix and match.
But, all capitals is a great starting point!
ABC Game 1: Alphabet Soup
You’ll need:
- Your letter cards
- A large soup pot
- A spoon
To Play:
Spread the letter cards around the room. Have your child run over and grab one, and say what letter it is.
Ask your child to add the letter to the pot.
Continue adding letters until they’re all in.
Then sing the ABC song and give the letters a stir
ABC Game 2: ABC Toss
You’ll Need:
- Your letter cards
- A ball of crumpled aluminum foil
To Play:
Spread a few letters out on a desk or table. Hand your child the ball of foil, and have her take a few steps backwards.
Your child tosses the ball of aluminum foil onto the cards. Ask her what letter the foil landed on (or landed near).
Flip that card over, and toss the ball again. Continue until all cards are flipped over.
ABC Game 3: A Basket Full of Letters
You’ll Need:
- Your letter cards
- A basket
- A chair
To Play:
Set the basket on the chair. Hand your child the stack of letter cards, and ask her to stand a few feet back.
Ask your child what card is on top. Once she says the letter, have her toss it into the basket.
When all the cards are tossed, have your child pick up any misses. They can take a step closer, and try again.
ABC Game 4: Flip the Sound
You’ll Need:
- Your letter cards
To Play:
Shuffle the letter cards and place them in a stack face down.
Have your child flip the top card over.
Ask your child to say the name of the letter, and the sound the letter makes. Have your child say a word that starts with that sound.
Continue for each letter.
ABC Game 5: Driving for Letters
You’ll Need:
- Your letter cards
- A toy vehicle
To Play:
Set the letter cards in order on the floor in a path around the room. They should be face up.
Have your child start with the vehicle at the letter A. Ask her to either put the letters in the vehicle (if it’s big enough) or drive over the letter.
She should sing the ABC song, driving from one letter to the next.
Will you give any of these simple ABC games a try? I’d love to hear about it in the comments!
