Letter and People Activities for Toddlers

First Name Letter

• The early childhood education experts at PBS Parents note that by the close of the toddler years most kids can write the first letter of their first names. Although it might not look exactly like an older child's printed letter, this letterlike scribble symbol connects them to the world of literacy. Have your toddler say his name, point to himself and then say the first letter. For example, Henry will say "H". Give your child a photo of himself and help him to glue it onto a piece of paper. Ask him to write his first name letter on the paper above or below the picture. Don't worry if it looks more like a squiggle with a dash through it. This is just a first step on the way to becoming a writer.

Letter People

• Instead of making this into a drawing activity, create the opportunity for your little learner to gain valuable letter recognition skills. According to the PBS Parents website some, but not all, toddlers can recognize and say the name of at least a few letters. Pick a new letter to teach to your toddler and either draw it yourself or choose a large-sized alphabet sticker that is at least 6 inches tall to attach to a piece of construction paper. Help your toddler turn the letter into a person by adding arms on the sides, legs on the bottom and a head on top. Don't expect your toddler to freehand the body parts. Opt for magazine or photo cut-outs and glue them to the paper around the letter. Another option is to decorate the letter as a person's face by adding googley eyes, a sticker nose and a sticker mouth.

Tracings and Stencils

• Keep in mind that while your 2-year-old isn't developmentally ready to make a perfect, or even legible for that matter, letter, he can trace and color them in. Choose prominent people that your toddler may know such as a police man, a firefighter or a nurse. Write the letters for the person and have your child trace over them with a marker or have him fill in spelling stencils. Add the tracing or stencil to a coloring page that features your child's favorite community helper person.

Letters and People Around Town

• The education professionals at Scholastic Parents recommend helping your children to learn their letters through meaningful ways. This includes using everyday events, and people, to help your toddler to recognize a few letter names and sounds. Take your toddler for a walk around the community with a deck of letter cards. If you can't find a ready-made deck, make your own by writing writing the capital letters on index cards. Ask her to name different people that she sees around town. When she says the person's first name or who the person is -- such as crossing guard or cashier -- show her to card for the first letter. Add in the sound for the letter to help her build early literacy connections.