Teaching 2 and 3 Year Olds

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Toddler ABC Sensory Table

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Adding literacy to a toddler’s day can be so very simple. You have books, of course. And perhaps some alphabet blocks and toys. There’s another super easy activity you can put together in minutes, and that’s a toddler ABC sensory table.

We love sensory tables (or bins, as we also call them) because they invite the toddler to explore using the 5 senses. In this toddler ABC sensory table, there is a lot of touching as the foam letters are touched and transported. There are different colors to identify and sort. It’s a great way to expose them to lines and curves, too!

Alphabet Sensory Bin - Literacy for Toddlers

 

 

Toddler ABC Sensory Table

 

Putting together a toddler ABC sensory table is a fun, hands-on way for toddlers to become exposed to letters. We certainly do not expect our toddlers to know the alphabet, but we do expose them to letters throughout our classroom. We have books in many different centers, words on the walls, labels, names on cubbies … and as young as they are, they become aware that those letters have meaning. As they transition from toddler to preschooler, they start to point out letters in their names. When they are in our 3 year old class, they are not only recognizing their names, but also the names of their classmates. From there, they start to write letters and then words in the 4 year old pre-k class. There is never any pressure. It’s all through daily exposure in a print-rich environment and materials that include letters, like this foam letter sensory table.

 

preschool literacy

 

What you will need:

 

  • Sensory table or a bin that can go on a table or floor
  • Foam letters
  • Containers and scoops

 

preschool sensory table

 

Setting it up:

Pour the foam numbers into the bin and add the scoops and containers. It’s that easy!

 
preschool sensory table

 

 
preschool literacy

 

Toddlers will enjoy scooping the letters into the containers, or just using their hands.

 

preschool sensory table

 

 

preschool ABC

 

 

If you have a toddler who likes to dump things (don’t most?), find a container to place below the sensory table and let him drop handfuls of letters into it. (We used a box lid.)

 

preschool sensory table

 

 

If you would like to expose your toddler to numbers, switch out the letters for numbers.

 

preschool sensory table

Want to add water to this activity? Follow me over to our alphabet soup activity!

TODDLER LITERACY SENSORY TABLE


 

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About Sheryl Cooper

Sheryl Cooper is the founder of Teaching 2 and 3 Year Olds, a website full of activities for toddlers and preschoolers. She has been teaching this age group for over 20 years and loves to share her passion with teachers, parents, grandparents, and anyone with young children in their lives.

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Comments

  3. Growing Book by Book

    I love the free exploration of this activity. We have these foam letters and my boys love to play with them. One of their favorite things to do is to bury them in dry oatmeal and dig them out with their construction vehicles. Thank you for encouraging play with letters!

    • Sheryl Cooper

      I love that idea with the oatmeal and construction vehicles. I need to remember that one! We had magnetic letters and construction vehicles in our block area last week. I love mixing literacy in different areas of the room!