From A to Z: Teaching the Alphabet with Fun Activities
Kara Hornung OTR/L
Is your kiddo having difficulty learning their ABCs? Learning the alphabet is an important first step needed for reading and writing skills. Help your child master their letters by making learning a multi-sensory and fun experience with some of these ideas. If your child is just starting the process or having a difficult time, start with a few letters at a time. Work on those letters until they are mastered and then continue through the alphabet. If your child is more advanced or just needs review, try these with the entire alphabet!
Letter Scavenger Hunt
- Try with uppercase and/or lowercase letters.
- Make it festive with a holiday theme! (ex. Have the child find a letter and place them on a separate paper shaped as a Christmas tree, turkey, pumpkin, Easter egg, etc.)
- If your child is having a hard time remembering a letter:
- Try giving them a flashcard so they can remember which letter they are looking for. Give them one letter to search for at a time. For example: give the child the “A” card and cue the child to look for all the A’s before giving them the B card.
- Give lots of cues for them to say the letter out loud! Even if you must identify the letter for them, have them teach it back to you. For example: “We are looking for D. Can you find the letter D?” “Here I found a letter D. Can you tell me what letter this is?”
- Give a lot of praise even if you must assist with each letter. Tell your child how smart they are and how hard they are working! Your child will be much more excited to participate.
Roll the Dice
- Dry erase dice are available at the Dollar Tree in the education section.
- Roll the dice to target a select few letters.
- Make it fun by rolling it down a slide or knocking down pins!
- Connect it to the scavenger hunt game.
Cover the Letter
- Use paper or Play-Doh to have the child cover up a selected letter.
- Try it with a variety of colors to make it more fun!
- You can let the child use dot markers to cover the letters.
Arts & Crafts Time
Use craft materials, toys, and other supplies you already have at home to create letters. Get creative! Use lots of repetition and ask the child to tell you what letter they are making.
Ideas:
- Play-Doh
- Shaving cream
- Small toys like Legos, cars, etc.
- Popsicle sticks
- Pipe cleaners
- Paint, crayons, markers
- Label stickers
Worksheets
Check out these sites for good printouts to work on letter recognition!
- Preschool Play and Learn
- 123 Homeschool 4 Me
- Teachers Pay Teachers(Scroll down and look on the left for FREE!)
If you have any questions or concerns about your child’s development, our therapists would love to help! Visit our website or give us a call at 859-353-3666.
![We’ve loved seeing your stories roll in over the past couple weeks and wanted to share one of our own, thanks to therapists Lauren & Maya and their friend Tiffany. ❤️
Last week, OT Ms. Lauren and ST Ms. Maya accompanied Tiffany on a HUGE adventure, attending the Special Needs Camp of Kentucky for activities, friendship, and growth ? Headquartered in Bath County, SNCKI is free to attend, with nearly 100 campers enrolled this year! Ms. Lauren shared her thoughts with the HTP team when she got home: “The other campers welcomed [Tiffany] with open arms, and she made so many new friends…A space where 76 teens/adults with disabilities of all kinds were free to just be them and make those connections with each other while having tons of fun. We have had moments that were trickier to navigate, but we did it together.”
One of the nights was family and community night, featuring a group dance and a talent showcase. ?Lauren said, “The amount of love and support in the gym was out of this world. For her mom to see that, to know that we’ve got her girl no matter what, means more than any treatment code or note I could ever write. She is already asking when she gets to come back…and even told her mom to ‘buy a new house at camp’? If you are not already, follow Special Needs Connections of Kentucky, Inc on facebook. They are doing such AMAZING things for our community here and deserve so much support.” ? We couldn’t agree more!
Therapy isn’t about treatment codes, billable hours, documentation, or recertification. It’s about the meaningful moments and the love we pour into these children every single day. This is why Hogg Therapy exists—to give every child the opportunity to experience a meaningful, joyful life. ✨ Thank you, Lauren and Maya for your support both in and outside of the clinic and for sharing this story! ?](https://scontent-iad3-1.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.82787-15/747807719_18212073508337241_9129116297997701917_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_e35_tt6&_nc_cat=108&ccb=7-5&_nc_sid=18de74&efg=eyJlZmdfdGFnIjoiQ0FST1VTRUxfSVRFTS5iZXN0X2ltYWdlX3VybGdlbi5DMyJ9&_nc_ohc=tCWn73_5rtkQ7kNvwH3v3Fu&_nc_oc=AdqkXs1j4ZibIrHGmF4E8N_h4pPTqd7alGUClKuAZJPwzyeBHeyUR_ZcrYg_4cVwuDU&_nc_zt=23&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.cdninstagram.com&edm=ANo9K5cEAAAA&_nc_gid=vwJTdBoB7zrAvRerPWqvQg&_nc_tpa=Q5bMBQF41Zl_n7k3boMLx0v6KZmFef6jQAsCYQB6Euk0DRgcmg9VQYcOtcoy1K_JwgFjdBtvW-XhcKKh5A&oh=00_AQH6nHwwcQx67Qf_5CXNZryVofNO1fXGJXoa4k0tKyf7rA&oe=6A715C8A)
![We’re sharing an occupational therapy success story from OT Mrs. Abby today! ? Meet Grayson! When he first started occupational therapy, everyday life felt hard. He was experiencing significant picky eating, struggled with daily routines and transitions, and had a difficult time managing big emotions.
Since then, Grayson has put in so much hard work. Through OT, he has built confidence, strengthened his self-regulation skills, and learned to take on new and challenging tasks with courage. Every small step has added up to something truly amazing! One of the biggest reasons for Grayson’s success has been the incredible partnership with his parents. They fully embraced therapy beyond the clinic by consistently practicing strategies at home through his Home Exercise Program (HEP). Their dedication, encouragement, and willingness to try new approaches have made all the difference.
Today, Grayson is trying new foods every week, navigating daily routines with greater independence, and enjoying more successful, joyful moments with his family. His growth is a wonderful reminder of what can happen when a determined child, committed caregivers, and a supportive therapy team work together.
?Congratulations, Grayson! We are so proud of everything you’ve accomplished, and we’re celebrating your amazing parents, too. Your hard work, perseverance, and teamwork are inspiring! ?
[This story & all photos shared with parent permission ??] #occupationaltherapy #hoggtherapypediatrics #hoggtherapy #feedingtherapy](https://scontent-iad6-1.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.82787-15/742695277_18211398901337241_3568386461214310976_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_e35_tt6&_nc_cat=100&ccb=7-5&_nc_sid=18de74&efg=eyJlZmdfdGFnIjoiQ0FST1VTRUxfSVRFTS5iZXN0X2ltYWdlX3VybGdlbi5DMyJ9&_nc_ohc=ZuMQwTXiLRAQ7kNvwHysT2v&_nc_oc=AdrgLD2KE3BZ_Tgj_jypYgv50BwgBbMAwW3P8YcFpBKy6YBOzq7lF46_XJAjv4qroGc&_nc_zt=23&_nc_ht=scontent-iad6-1.cdninstagram.com&edm=ANo9K5cEAAAA&_nc_gid=vwJTdBoB7zrAvRerPWqvQg&_nc_tpa=Q5bMBQEqtbpOGUNepGhevIyk4fRBIrm8P_FrSrFes5-iwkMuOa6YMRrnWm_0pORbcUjw4pPvl28IGG1m5w&oh=00_AQF1x62b40JsOzrFUraP5eRmixwm7vU9IHo4ZICEVQCZtw&oe=6A71734E)
