35+ Preschool Literacy Ideas that are Perfect for Summer

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Inside: This awesome collection of preschool literacy ideas are perfect for summer break. Have fun with water, chalk, sensory, and more while exposing young children to the alphabet!

“I’m looking for ways to keep my preschooler interested in the alphabet while he’s on summer break.”

This was a recent email I got from a dear reader. While I have my own fun preschool literacy ideas, I wanted to expand the collection.

And so, I asked my favorite early childhood bloggers. They didn’t disappoint. In fact, I got over 35 of the very best preschool literacy ideas. This collection is amazing!

Best part? No workbooks or flashcards are involved. Nope. These are hands-on, FUN activities with a summer twist. They can be done indoors or outdoors. (Who wants to be indoors on a nice summer day?)

35+ Preschool Literacy Ideas that are Perfect for Summer

• Make a name puzzle that can be played indoors or outdoors.
• Make an experience book highlighting your summer adventures. (Two-Daloo)
• Fill a bin with foam letters for alphabet recognition fun.
• Practice writing letters with chalk and water. (Coffee Cups and Crayons)
• Make your own letter box that can be used all summer long for literacy activities.
• Go on a backyard alphabet hunt. (Teach Mama)
• Make some frozen letters for a cool literacy activity on a hot summer day. (The Imagination Tree)
• Letters on ping pong balls are fun for fishing out of water. (The Imagination Tree)

• Practice phonics while playing a letter sound freeze dance. (Meaningful Mama)
• Play an alphabet game with water balloons. (Teaching Mama)
• Use water balloons to play letter smash. (School Time Snippets)
• Make your own outdoor chalkboard to practice writing letters. (Rhythms of Play)
• Surround yourself with letters in your backyard with a water park. (Growing Book by Book)
• Make a giant letter race track and form it outdoors to spell words. (The Adventures of Adam)

• Dig for letters in the dirt. (Mom to 2 Posh Lil Divas)
• Fill up a tub and wash the letter dishes. (Growing Book by Book)
• Go on a Little Bo Peep name hunt. (Messy Little Monster)
• Fish for letters in an ocean alphabet. (Kitchen Floor Crafts)
• Place letters in sudsy water for an alphabet wash. (Little Bins for Little Hands)
• Add some large motor by playing an alphabet relay. (Tiny Tots Adventures)
• Write your child’s name on cups and use the hose to squirt each cup as the letter is recognized. (Inspiration Laboratories)
• Get outside and have fun with magnetic letters on the garage door. (The Sugar Aunts)

• Make paper letter or word kites with wet chalk. (The Preschool Tool Box)
• While focusing on the letter O, make octopus hot dogs. (A Mom with a Lesson Plan)
• Have a read and draw picnic. (No Time for Flash Cards)
• Get moving while participating in a noisy letter jump. (The Imagination Tree)
• Write letters on the sidewalk and trace them with rocks. (And Next Comes L)
• Create an outdoor writing center. (Lalymom)
• After reading the book “We’re Going on a Bear Hunt”, go on a sensory adventure in your backyard. (Play and Learn Everyday)

• Put letter stamps in your outdoor water table. (How Wee Learn)
• Experience letter eruptions outdoors. (Learn Play Imagine)
• Collect pebbles from the beach and make story stones. (Messy Little Monster)
• Sprinkle water from a watering can while learning letters in the garden. (The Pleasantest Thing)
• Make a letter recognition activity using popsicle sticks. (How Wee Learn)
• Get the body moving while playing an alphabet bug swat game. (Modern Preschool)
• Write letters on real shells for a fun summer alphabet activity. (The Imagination Tree)

More summer fun for preschoolers: