Art Ideas

Updated on April 18, 2012
A.L. asks from El Dorado Hills, CA
8 answers

I am trying to teach my 3 year old his ABC's, 123's, shapes, colors, etc. I feel like I am running out of ideas of projects to do with him. For ABC's we focus on one letter a week and during that week, I have him do a collage (he glues small a's on a large one), he glues things that start with the letter, traces the letter and colors a sheet that has the letter and something that starts with that letter. Does anyone have ideas of some other things I can do with him?? I do the same thing for numbers. Collage, color, a number book.

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S.H.

answers from Honolulu on

You seem to be doing fine.
Main thing is that he enjoys it.
You might also get workbooks.

Also, have him practice sounding out the letters.
ie: "A" apple, ah, ah, apple. That type of thing.
"B" ball. Buh, buh, ball.
"C" cat, cuh, cuh, cat.
That is what my son's Teacher does in his Kindergarten class at the beginning of the year and in Preschool they did that too.
It is called an alphabet chant.

Sounding out letters, is also important. Phonics.

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B.F.

answers from San Francisco on

Since you have the basic learning tools down already, I agree that expanding the learning in more creative ways will be great for him. Playing games that deal with counting etc. (We love Yahtzee Jr and Cat in the Hat - I can do That.) Even get out the Scrabble tiles and let him play around with them. I also like the idea of finding letters while you're out and about during the day. My three year old LOVES finding letters and pointing them out - without any prompting, so it doesn't feel like a "lesson". He will find learning opportunities in just about everything you do, as I'm sure you've noticed :) Have fun!

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☆.A.

answers from Pittsburgh on

Put pudding or shaving cream on the table and have him draw the numbers and letters in it.

What about O. of those wooden puzzles with the alphabet letters?

Here are some more ideas:
http://www.justmommies.com/articles/teach-alphabet.shtml

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A.G.

answers from Houston on

Try alphabet and numbered connect the dots workbooks.
Go outside and use sticks, rocks and leaves to make letters and numbers and shapes.
Take him to the store and assign a letter or number for him to find each time.

M.L.

answers from Houston on

You can do yarn tracing on sandpaper, that's fun. He can write the letters in a bowl of sugar (or flour or sand).

Have fun though, he will get them, he has plenty of time.

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D.N.

answers from Chicago on

Go for a walk. My kids loved this the most. Look for things that have a specific shape. How many can you find? Look at license plates for letters and numbers, street addresses, names of streets etc. For sounds, what does tree start with? Stuff like that. You get to spend time in the open air, together. Colors are really fun, especially in the fall.

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K.B.

answers from San Francisco on

Hi there!
I am currently working on site words with my 4-year old son and I made a game and called it Parking Words. This can also be done with letters, colors, shapes, etc. I started with a square piece of scrapbook paper. You could also use cardboard, etc., but you want something that will withstand a car and a little boy! I took one of his Hot Wheels type of car (to measure each parking spot) and drew in a "parking lot." In each parking space I wrote a site word. You can make the board, parking spots as large as you want. I also made flash cards out of recipe index cards to show him. He has to say the word and then find the parking spot. My son loves the game and wants to play all the time. Good luck!

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J.B.

answers from St. Cloud on

I think what you're doing is already a great idea. My kids & I would & do (16yrs-14mo. age range) sing or make up silly songs about that letter. Dance & try to make yourself into that shape, letter or number or just hold up that amount of fingers. Also taking every opportunity while driving or playing outside to point things out..."It's so fun to swing on the BLUE swing..." Or I did see that truck! What color was that truck?" "Ooo, you're so lucky! How many M&Ms did she give you?" It seemed to sink in much quicker with our now 4 year old to ask him what he saw rather than telling him over & over what a color was. And acting it out works great because our 14mo old copies what I do. If I thrown something away, she wants to throw something in the garbage. If I sweep, she wants to sweep, etc. Have fun!

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