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Letter targets!

This fun game supports letter recognition and coordination.

Materials Required

Plastic cups or containers
Soft ball or socks
Pen or marker

Play experience profile

Age:

Preschoolers
Min Playtime

5 - 15 Minutes
Skills

Letters, Gross motor, Literacy
Energy Level

Active play
Messiness Rating
EYLF Outcomes

Learn More

Play Experience Preparation

Write or stick letters on cups (single letter on each cup)

Experience Steps

Line the cups up, reading out the letter as you go.
Give your child a small soccer ball (or any soft ball), and instruct them to kick the ball toward the letter cups.
When the cup is knocked down, say the letter on the cup.
For a more advanced version, say a letter first, and see if they can aim for the corresponding cup.
Repeat the experience with a smaller ball and encourage your child to throw the ball towards the letters.

What to talk about, or questions to ask during the experience

Use the letter and the sound that the letter makes
Use the letter and a familiar word that starts with the letter - B for ball
Encourage your child to match a word to the sound they can hear in the letter

Build on this...

Use a stack of paper plates or sheets of paper, and write one giant letter on each one. Then use packing tape to secure each plate to a spot on the floor and spread them around the room. Have your child start on one side of the room and try to jump to the other without touching the floor. As they jump to each new spot, have them say the letter or letter sound.
Instead of letters repeat the game with numbers or shapes!

WHO guidelines for physical activity and sedentary behaviour
Provide evidence-based public health recommendations for children, adolescents and adults on physical activity. Learn more

This encourages gross motor skills of throwing and kicking.

EYLF Outcomes
The Early Years Learning Framework has been designed for use by early childhood educators working in partnership with families, children’s first and most influential educators. View PDF

Children engage with a range of texts and gain meaning from these texts
Children take increasing responsibility for their own health and physical wellbeing

EYLF Principle

Principle 1: Secure, respectful and reciprocal relationships. Through a widening network of secure relationships, children develop confidence and feel respected and valued.

EYLF Practice

Practice: Learning through play. Play can expand children’s thinking and enhance their desire to know and to learn. In these ways play can promote positive dispositions towards learning. Children’s immersion in their play illustrates how play enables them to simply enjoy being.