Toddlers Learning to Recognize and Spell Their Names

Yesterday, the kids seemed bored with being at home. Unfortunately, we are on a budget at the moment, due to some anticipate expenses coming up. Its almost time to renew the car registration, Finn's 3rd birthday and his 3 year checkup. So I knew it wasn't a good idea to spend money to entertain them when I could find something to entertain them here.

So to my craft shelves I went. After some thought while they napped, I had some things layed out when they woke.

First, I had a foam rectangle at each of their seats, at the table. I had written their name on their designated one. I started out by talking about the one in front of each of them one at a time. We identified the letters together and I explained it was their name. They both seemed to grasp that. Later, when I wrote their names in another place they both showed recognition of their own name.

Then, I spread some foam star stickers in front of me. They were multi colored, so we talked about each of their colors. As they would name the color of each, whoever had said it first got to put that sticker on a blank paper plate I had placed in front of them. Basically made a little game out of it. They thought it was fun and Im hoping it was a helpful lesson in sharing, as well.

Next, I gave them back their name rectangles. Before starting I had written one letter of their names on each star. I asked them to place the lettered star on the corresponding letter on the foam. Just a fun little spelling activity. They aren't anywhere near able to spell their names yet but they completed the activity decently. Finn did a lot better than Lorelai but she did manage to put them in order.