Do your children like to write thank you notes or draw letters to their family and friends? A letter writing tray can help a young child formulate a letter themselves. The tray promotes letter writing and literacy skills in a really fun way.
We have put together a tray that contains all the items a child needs to write a letter. We have pre-printed paper that acts as a prompt. The child can address the letter or an adult can do this for them. We have laminated name cards on a ring. The cards include names of family and friends so the child can copy the name. We also have the child’s name on one card – this is great practice for a child learning to write their own name.
Our tray also includes crayons, stickers and envelopes. Other ideas that I love include washi tape, coloured envelopes, stamps, glitter or gel pens. If your child is pre-writing, you can address the letter and they can draw or decorate the main section of the letter.
This activity is fantastic from a Montessori perspective as the young child can have ownership over writing the letter. It encourages children to be involved in the physical act of letter writing, sending snail mail and staying in touch with family and friends who may be far away.
Even if it’s a little drawing the child can be proud of their letter writing efforts!
wonderful pea / 17279 posts
Adding note cards with common names is a great idea. That really let’s the child complete this activity independently.
blogger / grapefruit / 4836 posts
I love this!! Kylie, are lowercase letters used intentionally, rather than introducing capitals?
nectarine / 2784 posts
This is wonderful!
pomegranate / 3225 posts
I love this! genius !!
grape / 87 posts
This is such a perfect idea and something they can grow into by starting out with drawings and later adding the writing.
olive / 58 posts
@Mrs. Lemon-Lime: Yes, and we’ve been able to add to it. As the children make new friends we make new name cards. They also help my four year old to write his name as he still sometimes gets the letters mixed up!
olive / 58 posts
@Mrs. Lion: Yes, my four year old only knows lower case. Some upper case are similar such as M/m but some are different like A/a. So while he is still learning all of his letters we try to use lower case. At his Montessori they learn all lower case letters before starting on upper case.
blogger / grapefruit / 4836 posts
@Kylie: that totally makes sense
thanks!