10 Name Activities for Preschoolers

Teaching young children how to recognize their name in print and to identify the letters can come with many struggles. There could be many reasons for that, but one reason could be, simply put: your child is not interested. I have an idea to help with learning letters. Start with the letters in your child’s names. A child’s name is meaningful and they are more likely to stay engaged and become eager about learning those special letters. In no time, you will hear your child identify any given letter in his/her name by saying, “That’s my name!” 

Here are 10 activities to teacher name recognition at home or in a classroom:

• Play Dough Names- Use alphabet stampers to spell names or roll play dough snakes to form into names.
• ​Name Length- Write names on strips of paper. Count the letters and then write the number to tell how many. Put the names in order from least to greatest number of letters.
• Alphabet Name Book- Use the first letter in each name to create an ABC book. 
• Name Stamp- Stamp name with ABC stamps
• Magnetic Names- Use magnetic letters to build names.
• Kool Aid Names- Use glue to write names, sprinkle with Kool Aid to create a scented name card​.​​

• Rainbow Write- Provide crayons/markers to rainbow write independently. Or children can trace each letter in their name.

The trick is to make the letters meaningful. You can include family, friends and pet names in the process. In addition to teaching your child how to recognize his/her name, it is equally important to know the names of each letter in the name. I’ve worked with preschoolers for over 10 years and I have witnessed many children who can “recognize” their name, but are not able to identify any of the letters in the name or spell the name from rote memory. I have heard children spell their names with lightning speed, but unable to identify any of the letter names or recognize their name.

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Beaded Name- Use beads and gems to spell name including names of family and friends. Be

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• Magazine/Newspaper Name- cut letters from magazines and newspapers to spell names.

Sensory Bin Letter Hunt- Place rice, pasta, or beans into a tub and have children hunt for the letters in their name.

If you like this activity, you may like this blog post: 

Cookies, Letters, and Phonics
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