4 Fun Ways to Use Play Dough for Letter Recognition

You don't have to be crafty or have a lot of free time to be able to use a little creativity to help your child learn her ABCs. Play dough is a great material for all sorts of learning. These four simple play dough activities are wonderful ways to playfully work on letter recognition. When you're just starting out, focus on letters that are meaningful for your child, such as those in her name.



1. Alphabet Cookie Cutters

Roll out the dough and cut out some letters! You can keep it simple or turn it into a letter bakery by adding a small cookie sheet, apron, and oven mitt.



2. Letter Stamps

Stamps and play dough are a fun mix, and when the stamps have letters on them it's even better! Adults aren't too amazed when the stamps leave perfect letters in the play dough, but little kids are. Older children can even try spelling their names or other words.



3. Toothpicks

This is a great activity for kids who recognize letters and are starting to learn how to form them as well.


4. Play Dough Letters

It can't get simpler than this. Roll out the play dough and shape it into letters. If your child can't do this independently, sit with him and ask him what his favorite letters are and make them together.

Do you have a simple activity (other than reading, of course) that has helped your children learn their ABCs? Let's talk about it! Drop us a line on the Scholastic Parents Facebook Page.