I’m always looking for games, toys, and activities for Ayden that encourage learning throughout our day. Now that I’m staying home with him, and he’s no longer going to daycare, I want to ensure that he’s still learning and meeting important milestones as he grows.
Like most moms, I LOVE buying him toys — me walking into the toy section at a store is basically a trap. I’m probably gonna buy a ton of stuff that he definitely doesn’t need. To justify my urge to purchase, I strive to find things that can be incorporated into some sort of lesson.
This week, I made a couple of purchases from Amazon that I plan to use for exploratory activities centered around the alphabet.
Soft Alphabet Cards
I have already shared our current set of flashcards a ton on IG (each pack was less than $3!), and I still love them. They do, however, have one fatal flaw at Ayden’s current stage. While the paper is thick, and has a very thin plastic coating, the cards cannot withstand his little teeth. Every time I pull out the flash cards, he wants to naw on one of the cards I’m not using (and this is obviously a major issue for someone who is super anal about the condition of the flash cards).
I came across this fabric set and knew I had to get them. They include both the letters of the alphabet, as well as a word that starts with the associated letter, so I can use this set of flashcards for ABC and first-word lessons. The cute fabric storage container, which is included with the set, is also a major plus!
Lesson Example:
Name Recognition
- Pull out the associated flash card for each letter of your child’s name. Put the remaining flashcards away and out of sight to eliminate any distractions.
- In spelling order, present each letter flashcard to your child. For each card you should state the letter, the letter sound, and the associated word on the back of the card. The goal is for the child to be focusing on you and the cards. (Example: “A says “ah” and A is for “airplane”)
- After describing each letter, place the associated flashcard letter side up on the floor. Repeat for the remaining letters in spelling order so your child’s name is displayed on the floor.
- Once all letters are on the floor, point to each letter and restate the letter name followed by your child’s name. (Example: “A, Y, D, E, N spells Ayden”)
- Repeat steps 2-3 while reading each flashcard, in spelling order, and returning the flashcards to your hands.
*To make the exercise more interactive, read the flashcard and then have your child hold them instead of placing them back in your hands as stated in Step 5*
Bilingual Talking Poster
I’m so excited for this poster. It’s going to be a great addition to Ayden’s playroom and I think he’s going to love hearing all of the sounds. While the flashcards were more interactive, I’m thinking this wall poster is going to be great for times of independent play.
This will be hung on our wall, without any toys placed in front of it, so Ayden can view, and push, any of the letters as he pleases. This poster includes both upper and lower case letters, numbers, and first words in both English and Spanish.
As he grows, we’ll work more with the “find the letter” and bilingual option, but initially I’ll simply be focusing on the explorative qualities of this poster.
Lesson Example:
Independent Play – Exploring the Alphabet/Cause
and Effect
- Turn the poster on and select “ABC.” This selection tells the board to talk through the ABCs.
- Allow your child to explore the poster on their own. The goal is for them to press the poster and hear a resulting sound (in this case, the associated letter).
*Optional – After your child has had the chance to explore the poster on their own, walk through the ABC’s with them by pointing to each letter and pressing the associated button. Close the lesson by singing the ABC’s together and again pointing to each letter as you go*
Both of these items can be purchased from Amazon for less than $50. Although they are great for the infant stage, both the flashcards and the letter board can be used for years to come by making small modifications to the activities. For example, you can ask your child to spell words with the flashcards and you can utilize the “find” setting on the poster. The poster will ask your child to find, and press, a certain letter or number on the board.
I’m excited to announce that I have teamed up with two other amazing mom bloggers who also share tons of wonderful learning activities for their children. Through the links below, you will find activities for kids between the ages of 1 and 3 1/2 years old:
Multiplying Mitchie: Interactive Pre-K Prep
Messy Mom Mission: Letter Recognition & Sound
For more infant educational activities, check out the ideas I’ve shared here. These are perfect for taking advantage of the nice weather and remaining Summer days.
Have you used any items similar to the one’s above? If so, what kind of educational activities did you create with each one? I’d love to hear about them in a comment below!
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