Over the years there have been a number of things we’ve put into the kids playroom but only a handful really stand out as worthwhile investments.
This alphabet mat, being one of them…
I still remember buying this from Lowes a little over 5 years ago, wondering whether it would be worth the 20 odd dollars we were spending.
And here we are 5 years later, with it going strong!
This mat was initially bought to add a punch of color to Bunny girl’s room but over the years it has proven to be more than just part of the room decor.
It soon became a learning aid for Bunny girl…
and now Bunny Boo.
Definitely a fun way to teach your preschooler the alphabet!
The game we play is Alphabet Hop.(Well, I couldn’t think of anything more creative!)
We initially started off by standing on an alphabet and calling it out. Once he began to recognize the letters we’d do the Alphabet Hop.
I call out a letter and he hops (in a 2 year old’s dictionary jumping equates hopping!) to the letter…
and then we do a little cheer!!
We also step it up a little by asking him to call out the color of the square he lands on and the color of the letter called out.
My little man loves the “game” while this Mama just loves all the learning that gets done in the process!
Do you (or did you) play learning games with your little ones? I’d love more ideas!
**EBMR Disclaimer: Guess what? Lowes still has this online (and perhaps even in their stores) for several dollars cheaper! And no, I’m not being compensated to share this. As a Mom I think this is a fantastic buy!**
About Marina
Very cute idea! My kids are teenagers now so it’s been a long time since I thought about this kind of thing. But, I loved coming up with fun and creative activities for the kids.
Kari recently posted..Weekly Links I Liked 2-23-13
Twitter: wegotkidz
says:
Absolutely love the alphabet mat! I bought it for my 2-year-old twins (yes, I know. Pray for me. lol) this past Christmas. At this point, they can identify every single one of their letters. Now I could probably do without having to pick up foam pieces each day, but I think the tradeoff is worth it. lol.
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What fun…am sure Bunny Boo will have as much fun in learning as did Bunny Girl…can see the Bunny Hop is now a family tradition
xx
Twitter: wahhmom
says:
I remember those! We had a set we used with all four of the kids – used them as a puzzle, and sometimes as a matching game (pull the letters out, mix them up (or toss them around the room) and then match them all up again. I love the idea of the alphabet hop – right amount of movement, learning, and fun… all great things to build strong memories!
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This is such a great idea!! I have book marked on my phone so I can come back later. I would love to get this for my niece. Thanks for sharing
What a great idea!! I have a daycare and a fun playroom. This would be an awesome addition!
Kasey recently posted..Homemade Waffles
Twitter: mycharmedmom
says:
Nice tip here, I guess I am like you, I am thinking of the money I’ll be spending in buying that mat an its worth after buying it. Well you gave me some inspiration!
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Twitter: MommyTalkShow
says:
We have an alphabet may and I never thought to use it as a game.
Thanks for the reminder.
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Twitter: nickicoupons
says:
I love these mats they are so cool and a very easy way to teach your kids.
Nickida recently posted..Relieve Fevers Fast with Children’s Advil
Twitter: inkscrblr
says:
Yes, we do this one. We have always done it. At the school down the road from our house there is a stencilled alphabet and number timeline with hopscotch nearby. We always walk down and then I quiz my kids on hopping from 1 to 34 and A to Z. It’s a fun game we enjoy and it helped my youngest learn this stuff so well. My oldest never had access to the same stencil, but she learned easily without hands on. She learned by memory. But for kids who learn hands on and who are tactile with a lot of energy, this is an excellent way to learn.
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Twitter: mryjhnsn
says:
What a cute idea! And, a bargain at $20!
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Fun idea and keeps kids active too!
Cecile recently posted..Pintastic Pinning Party – March 3, 2013
This is kind of how we taught my tot how to do the alphabet! We used to square them off and have him fit the letters back in.