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Letter Identification Games for Kindergarten

Children in kindergarten may be working hard to learn to identify letters, especially during the beginning of the school year. While the process of simply quizzing the children on which letter is which may quickly become boring to a young child, adding a game element to the task makes it more enjoyable and fun. Some letter identification games are played more easily with one child while others can be played with a small group.

Letter Memory
- Play a game of letter memory to help kindergartners with matching lowercase and uppercase letters. This game is playable with a parent and child or with two or three kindergartners and adult guidance. Clearly write one uppercase letter on an index card along with one lowercase letter on a separate index card. Repeat this for every letter of the alphabet. Because this will create 52 different cards you may opt to use only 10 or 15 letters at a time to cut down on the number of pairs. Turn all of the cards over as the young children take turns trying to find matching pairs.
Magnetic Alphabet
- For a kindergarten student who is just beginning to learn letter identification, playing a game with colorful magnetic alphabet letters can help to hold his interest. Place the letters on your refrigerator or other metal surface. You can use more than one set. Jumble the letters up to make sure they are out of order. Ask your kindergarten student to find a certain letter and place it above the others. For an added bit of fun, spell out simple words and have the student sound it out if able.
Alphabet Rocks
- Do a combination craft project and game by making a set of alphabet rocks. Collect 26 small rocks and have the students paint each one with a background color. Once the paint dries, have them practice letter writing by painting a letter on each one. To play a game with the rocks, call out a letter and ask the students to find it and tell you the sound it makes. The students then have to find an object in the room that starts with the letter and place the rock in front of it. Another game you can play with the rocks is to mix them up and have the child put them back in the correct order.
Simon Says--Letter Style
- Combine letter identification with a traditional game of Simon Says. Write out one letter on 26 different pieces of standard sized paper. Each letter should fill up the whole piece of paper. Spread the papers out around the floor and give Simon Says commands like "Simon says to find the letter A and put it on your head."

Kids Games