Learning Games for Preschoolers for Letter & Number Recognition

Magnetic Number/Letter Games

• Give the children a bag of magnetic letters. Call out a letter. The first preschooler to reach in the bag and find the correct letter wins a small prize. You can also play this game with magnetic numbers. For a variation, have two or three children stand at a chalkboard with a bag of letters or numbers. Call out two letters or numbers and the first preschoolers to stick the letters or numbers on the board wins a prize.

Circle Games

• Have the preschoolers sit in a circle and select one player to go first. Tell the preschoolers they must each list a type of food in alphabetical order. For example, the first player could say "apple," the next player could say "banana," the next could say "cookies" and so on. For a number version, write numbers on sheets of paper and place the papers on the floor. Write the same numbers on small slips of paper and place them in a cup. Tell the preschoolers to stand on a number and draw a number from the cup. The preschooler standing on that number wins a small prize. You can also use letters instead of numbers or both.

Bingo Games

• Many children love playing bingo, so incorporate letters or numbers into a game of bingo for the children to play. Write letters or numbers in bingo squares and give each preschooler a card. Call out letters or number and have the preschoolers mark their cards using candy pieces. The first child to get a bingo and yell, "I love numbers or I love letters!" wins the game. For added fun, have the children use magnetic letters or numbers to mark the cards. They must use the correct number or letter to mark each square.

Memory Games

• Preschoolers can play a game of memory match to help them learn their letters and numbers. Print all the letters of the alphabet (two of each letter). Place the letters face down on a table. Have the preschoolers turn over two cards at a time. If they match, they get to keep the pair and go again. The child who has the most pairs at the end of the game wins a prize. You can also play the games using numbers instead of letters.