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Project Two

The Best Letter Recognition Game for Preschoolers!

Looking for a fun way to play with the ABCs? This letter recognition game, using disposable spoons and a cardboard box, is a great homemade alternative or complement to flashcards and worksheets!

An alphabet game that can be made on a budget!

There is nothing more satisfying than making a fun game for letter recognition while using everyday items you can likely find around the house! And the big backs of the spoons make for a perfect space to write on. What’s better than learning letters? Learning letters while improving fine motors skills! This activity is great for exercising those little hand muscles as they drop the spoons into the small slots!

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Skills: Learning the Alphabet

Ages: 2–3 Years

Prep Time: 30 Min

Children can enjoy matching the letters and poking them into the cardboard box. This version of the game involves matching uppercase letters for building recognition skills, but this set up is a great way to play with matching upper and lowercases. Numbers would work well too. And for toddlers, you could skip the alphabet altogether, and have them match colors!

Speaking of colors, you might be wondering: why color coordinate the letters into sections? I used colors because it can be a helpful guide for children who are still learning where letters fall within the alphabet. Skip this step if your little ones are more familiar with their ABCs!

Watch the video to see this game being played!

Materials 

Step-by-Step Instructions 

Step 1

Grab an old cardboard box and write each letter of the alphabet, outlining in black for a bolder appearance!

Step 2

Now, write each letter on the bowl of your disposable spoon.

Step 3

Use a sharp knife to cut slits into the cardboard box for each letter, and your alphabet game is ready to be played!

When do kids start learning the alphabet?

While every child learns at a different pace, letter recognition typically begins between 3 and 4 years old. This is when they also begin to associate sounds with letters. Of course, singing the ABC Song to babies and toddlers is a great way to provide early exposure. By age 5-6, when children are in Kindergarten, it is common for them to be able to recognize all the letters in the alphabet.

Five Alphabet Learning Toys

Need some ideas for store-bought toys that are great for fine motor skill development Here are my top picks of toys for toddlers that are great for strengthening hand muscles, with a particular focus on pincher grasp!

Pop Linking Beads:

These big, bright beads snap together and pull apart, enhancing fine motor skills and eye-hand coordination!

Wooden Rainbow Arches

A beautiful stacking puzzle, great for fine motor skills thought building and balancing and  iSTEM concepts.

Spike the Hedge Hog

Perfect for that pincher grasp! Little hands can build fine motor skills as they help the hedgehog by giving it his quills back!

Latches Board

An awesome board to develop fine motor skills directly. Also incorporates color recognition and number learning!

What’s Next?

Need some ideas for store-bought toys that are great for fine motor skill development Here are my top picks of toys for toddlers that are great for strengthening hand muscles, with a particular focus on pincher grasp!

Project One

Project One

Fine Motor Skill Development for Toddlers

toddler fine motor activity

Looking for a fun way for your toddler to develop fine motor skills and color recognition?

This DIY bottle cap rainbow is perfect for twisting, dropping, and color sorting!

Read on below for the simple how-to video and instructions for a fun and budget-friendly way to strengthen fine motor skills!

This pom pom drop with a twist, is a simple cardboard creation that combines so many fun skills in one! From fine motor skill development, to rainbow color recognition, and color sorting, there is so much for a kiddo to explore! Bonus points for keeping things low budget by using recyclables to create this!

This site contains affiliate links to products. We may receive a commission for purchases made through these links.

Skills: Fine Motor Skills

Ages: 2-3 Years

Prep Time: 30 Min

Watch the video to see this DIY fine motor toy in action!

To set up this activity, provide objects to be dropped inside the rainbow. In this case, pom poms. However, it is important to note that pom poms are a choking hazard and require adult supervision for children under 3 years old. If there is any concern, swap pom poms for something edible like colorful cereal!

Show your toddler how the caps can screw and unscrew, and how the pom poms can be dropped inside the holes. As your child picks up a new color, describe it’s color and point to it’s corresponding opening. Enjoy watching that beautiful pincher grasp grab and push!

Watch the video to see this DIY fine motor toy in action!

To set up this activity, provide objects to be dropped inside the rainbow. In this case, pom poms. However, it is important to note that pom poms are a choking hazard and require adult supervision for children under 3 years old. If there is any concern, swap pom poms for something edible like colorful cereal!

Show your toddler how the caps can screw and unscrew, and how the pom poms can be dropped inside the holes. As your child picks up a new color, describe it’s color and point to it’s corresponding opening. Enjoy watching that beautiful pincher grasp grab and push!

Materials 

  • Cardboard box

  • 6 bottle caps, including the screw bottom

  • Tempera Paint Sticks

  • Dot Stickers

  • Hot glue or strong tape to secure
  • Pom Poms, or something small to drop through the holes

    Use something edible, like blueberries, raisins, or Cherrios if there is any concern that your little one will put the items in their mouths)

  • Cardboard box

  • 6 bottle caps, including the screw bottom

  • Tempera Paint Sticks

  • Dot Stickers

  • Hot glue or strong tape to secure

  • Pom Poms, or something small to drop through the holes. (use something edible, like blueberries, raisins, or Cherrios if there is any concern that your little one will put the items in their mouths)

fine_motor_skills_for_toddlers

Step-by-Step Instructions 

Step 1

To make a rainbow shape, trace and cut 6 circles on the cardboard (I used one of the lids for tracing)

Step 2

Insert the screw end of the lid inside the box, using glue or tape to secure.

Step 3

Decorate your rainbow! Use a paint stick, marker, or crayon to make a circle around the screw ends on the cardboard, and then add a corresponding dot sticker on top of the lid.

Step 4

Now it’s ready for your kiddo to unscrew, push something inside the hole, and color coordinate!

Step 1

To make a rainbow shape, trace and cut 6 circles on the cardboard (I used one of the lids for tracing)

Step 2

Insert the screw end of the lid inside the box, using glue or tape to secure.

Step 3

Decorate your rainbow! Use a paint stick, marker, or crayon to make a circle around the screw ends on the cardboard, and then add a corresponding dot sticker on top of the lid.

Step 4

Now it’s ready for your kiddo to unscrew, push something inside the hole, and color coordinate!

Why are fine motor skills important?

It is never too early to start strengthening fine motor skills. Fine motor skills are important because they involve crucial strengthening of small muscles in the hands. Fine motor skills are ones we aren’t born with, but which are necessary for everyday tasks. Think: holding a pencil, using a spoon, buttoning a shirt, tying shoelaces, to name a few!

Why are fine motor skills important?

It is never too early to start strengthening fine motor skills. Fine motor skills are important because they involve crucial strengthening of small muscles in the hands. Fine motor skills are ones we aren’t born with, but which are necessary for everyday tasks. Think: holding a pencil, using a spoon, buttoning a shirt, tying shoelaces, to name a few!

Four Toys for Fine Motor Skills Strenthening.

Need some ideas for store-bought toys that are great for fine motor skill development Here are my top picks of toys for toddlers that are great for strengthening hand muscles, with a particular focus on pincher grasp!

Pop Linking Beads:

These big, bright beads snap together and pull apart, enhancing fine motor skills and eye-hand coordination!

Wooden Rainbow Arches

A beautiful stacking puzzle, great for fine motor skills thought building and balancing and  iSTEM concepts.

Spike the Hedge Hog

Perfect for that pincher grasp! Little hands can build fine motor skills as they help the hedgehog by giving it his quills back!

Latches Board

An awesome board to develop fine motor skills directly. Also incorporates color recognition and number learning!

What’s Next?

Need some ideas for store-bought toys that are great for fine motor skill development Here are my top picks of toys for toddlers that are great for strengthening hand muscles, with a particular focus on pincher grasp!

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