50+ Early Literacy Activities for Kids

Early literacy is crucial to later reading success. The best way for children to learn is through hands-on exploration, repetition and of course play. Today, I am excited to bring you 50 Early Literacy Activities from the members of The P.L.A.Y Group that readily incorporate those qualities and are sure to make learning both meaningful and fun in your home or classroom.

What is the P.L.A.Y Group? A group of moms and teachers dedicated to making learning and play activities readily available to everyone. We share our activities and ideas in the P.L.A.Y Group G+ Community and on our Pinterest board. 

Today, I am excited to share some of our favorite early literacy ideas with you.

Alphabet

It all begins with the alphabet, doesn't it? In order for children to learn to read they must learn these 26 letters and their sounds. Luckily, there are many ways to play and learn when it comes to the alphabet. Here are some of my favorite ways to help children master those ABC's -

Alphabet, Numbers and Colors Game (One Perfect Day)
A-Z of Learning Letters: 90 Fun Activities (Learn with Play at Home)
Alphabet Goo (Learn with Play at Home)
DIY Montessori Letters (Train Up a Child)
Milk Cap and Clothespin Alphabet (Train Up a Child)
Sensory Alphabet (Growing a Jeweled Rose)
Fishing for Letters (Growing a Jeweled Rose)
Wash & Learn Alphabet Bath (Growing a Jeweled Rose)
Eye Spy Alphabet Squish Bag (Growing a Jeweled Rose)
Alphabet Apple Tree (Growing a Jeweled Rose)
Alphabet Soup Bath (Bath Activities for Kids)
Magnetic Alphabet Bath (Bath Activities for Kids)
Alphabet Letter Hunt (Bath Activities for Kids)
Bubble Bath Letter Pit (Bath Activities for Kids)
Frozen Word and Number Scramble (Bath Activities for Kids)
Easter Egg Letter Match (Mess for Less)
Magnet Letters & A Cookie Tray (Mess for Less)
ABC Name Word Hunt  (Toddler Approved)
Alphabet Bowling (Toddler Approved)
Alphabet Sticky Wall (Toddler Approved)
Watering an Alphabet Garden (Toddler Approved)
Alphabet Rocks (Parent Teach Play)
Musical Alphabet Game (Mom to 2 Posh Lil Divas)


Sight Word & Phonics Fun

Mastering letter sounds, phonics and sight words are a crucial part of learning to read but it can be tedious and boring for kids to practice those skills. How can you make it fun? Let me share the ways -
Learning Sight Words - 10 Fun Ideas (Learn with Play at Home)
Sight Word Spray (Train Up a Child)
Sight Word Mash (Train Up a Child)
Snapping Out Sight Words (Toddler Approved)
Silly Sight Word Sentences (In Lieu of Preschool)
Conversation Hearts Sight Word Game (Mess for Less)
Sight Word Jenga (Mom to 2 Posh Lil Divas)
Sight Word Tic-Tac-Toe (Mom to 2 Posh Lil Divas)
Sight Word Connect Four (Mom to 2 Posh Lil Divas)
Sight Word Hopscotch (Mom to 2 Posh Lil Divas)
Sight Word Twister (Mom to 2 Posh Lil Divas)
Sight Word Discovery Bottles (Mom to 2 Posh Lil Divas)
Sight Word Island Jumping (Mom to 2 Posh Lil Divas)


Simple Word Family Game (One Perfect Day)
Feed the Monster: Letter Sound Activity (Train Up a Child)
Silly Phonics Game for Beginning Readers (Train Up a Child)
Word Family Slam (Toddler Approved)
Word Family Trees (Mom to 2 Posh Lil Divas)
Catch the -at Word Game (Mom to 2 Posh Lil Divas)
-ig Word Family Slide Pig (Mom to 2 Posh Lil Divas)
Word Family Eggs (Mom to 2 Posh Lil Divas)


Other Fun Reading Activities:

A great way to get kids reading is by using visuals and/or providing symbols/logos that they are familiar with. Make a Grocery Game for kids that will not only kept them entertained at the grocery store but also practice pre-reading skills (B-Inspired Mama).

Strategies & Ideas for Reading with Children

Strategies to Use When Reading with a Child (In Lieu of Preschool)
25 Ideas to Get You Little One to Love Reading (In Lieu of Preschool)
6 Keys to Make Reading Fun for Kids (B-Inspired Mama)
Reading Comprehension for Preschoolers (& Beyond) (Learn with Play at Home)
R is for Reading (Rainy Day Mum)
The ABC's of Learning to Read Through Play (Mom to 2 Posh Lil Divas)
Gifts to Inspire & Encourage Budding Readers (Mom to 2 Posh Lil Divas)
7 Tips to Encourage Your Beginning Reader (Mom to 2 Posh Lil Divas)

Writing

How do you get your children writing? It all starts with recognizing and learning to spell their name? Try these fun name recognition activities -

Learn Your Name with Playdough and Pom Poms (Learn with Play at Home)
Rainbow Name Writing (B-Inspired Mama)
Shamrock Name Fishing (B-Inspired Mama)
Letters in Our Name Twister (Toddler Approved)
I Can Spell My Name Hopscotch (In Lieu of Preschool)
Rainbow Color Writing (Parent Teach Play)

The best way to get children excited about writing is to make a game out of it, of course! You might want to try these hands-on writing activities -

Water Painting on a Chalkboard (One Perfect Day)
Salt Tray Writing Tray - (Rainy Day Mum)
125+ Ways to Practice Making Letters (In Lieu of Preschool)
25 Ideas to Get Your Child Ready to Write (In Lieu of Preschool)
Coconut Scented Writing Tray (Parent Teach Play)
Dry Erase Board Writing Practice (Mess for Less)
Tracing with Yarn (Mess for Less)
15 Ways to Encourage Letter Formation & Handwriting Practice (Mom to 2 Posh Lil Divas)

Isn't that a fabulous list of literacy ideas? 

Be sure to bookmark this for later because that's not all.

For more fun hands-on learning ideas be sure to check out 

the other bloggers that are part of the P.L.A.Y Group - 

Housing a Forest - Mess for Less - Rainy Day Mum - Parent Teach Play  

In Lieu of Preschool - One Perfect Day - B-Inspired Mama 

Toddler Approved - Train Up a Child - Growing a Jeweled Rose  

Bath Activities for Kids - Nature and Play - Learn with Play at Home

Plus, this is a blog hop! 

So be sure to check out all the other great topics and posts:

Art Activities from the PLAY Group  (B-Inspired Mama)

Art and Play Recipes for Kids (Bath Activities for Kids)

The Ultimate Guide to Cooking with Kids from the PLAY Group (Rainy Day Mum)

150+ Early Learning Activities from the PLAY Group (Growing a Jeweled Rose)

200+ Fine Motor Skills Activities from the PLAY Group (In Lieu of Preschool)

75 Math Activities from the PLAY Group (Toddler Approved)

200+ Ideas for Messy Play from the PLAY Group (Train Up a Child)

Get Out and Play (Nature and Play)

Recycled Craft Activities from the PLAY Group (Housing a Forest)

175+ Ideas for Repurposing Items for Play from the Play Group (Mess for Less)

100+ Science Activities from the Play Group (Learn with Play at Home)

The Ultimate Guide of Sensory Play Activities from the PLAY Group (One Perfect Day)

Happy Hopping & Learning!

Bern