Early Literacy Tip—July 2017

Play Outside with Chalk

Sidewalk chalk is one of those basic necessities for summer outdoor play….right along with bubbles and jump ropes!   Not only will your child get fresh air and exercise, using chalk will help enhance literacy skills in a fun way. Try some of the following activities:

Practice writing letters and number– write letters or numbers using dotted lines for your child to trace or simply encourage drawing, coloring, and making lines.

Shape Hunt–draw various shapes on a driveway or sidewalk and tell children to dance around until you call out a shape then everyone has to hurry and find one to stand on.

Hopscotch— this classic game teaches children to count and recognize numbers; try a variation with the letters of your child’s name so they can hop and learn how to spell.