Spending time with your young child engaging in activities appropriate to their development is one of the best ways to encourage an emergent reader. You already know the alphabet, but you can still enjoy creative playtime with your kids while they learn. This Alphabet Craft is super easy, uses just a few supplies that you likely already have on hand, and can be as simple or involved as you and your mini Picassos want it to be.

Alphabet Craft for Emergent Readers

Start with these basic supplies:
* Construction paper
* Scissors
* Glue (stick or liquid)
* Crayons, markers or colored pencils
* Extras like googlie eyes, glitter, feathers, etc.

Step 1
Choose one color of construction paper for the letter and a complimentary or contrasting color of construction paper for back ground.

Step 2
Draw your favorite letter as big as you can on the paper you chose for your letter.

Step 3
Cut the letter out, laying it flat on your work surface. Now it’s time to get creative!

Step 4
Have your child imagine what this letter would be “dressed up”. They can make the letter L into a lion or the letter P into a swimming pool. There is no wrong way to do it so they don’t have to be literal. They also don’t need your help imagining it. You have your own letter to create.

Step 5
Decorate your letter!

PRO TIP: If using glitter, lay the letter on a clean paper plate or lined cookie sheet. Apply school glue (liquid) to the areas you want glitter in the desired pattern. Sprinkle glitter on and let stand for 30 seconds. Shake glitter back on plate. This technique allows you to reuse glitter and prevent waste by pouring it back into the container from the plate. It also reduces your glitter mess.

PRO TIP: If you are using pom poms or feathers apply the glue to the paper or surface, never to the feather or pom pom. Glue on the feather will tear it and make a mess. Glue the paper and stick the feather on to the glue.

Step 6
After the decorating is done, attach the letter to your backing construction paper so it can be framed or hung. Imagine how your home would look with all 26 letters of the alphabet so creatively represented on your walls! Because you and your child or children made your letters based on what is important in your life, the relevancy of each letter will resonate even more in your emergent reader.

We like doing this craft at our Story Times and Music Hours because it is appropriate for all age groups. Younger kids learn their letters and older kids get extremely creative. We often marvel at the complexity and skill of our young artists. This craft can be done multiple times for endless phonic fun!

We offer free events nearly every day of the year at all our stores. These events include live music, author signings, game playing and so, so many crafting hours. Check our event calendar to plan your next visit to Bookmans.