With some absolutely beautiful weather this week, summertime—and all that it stands for—is calling me! It’s a time for fun in the sun, loads of play, and exploring this incredible world of ours. It’s also the perfect time to do some one-on-one learning with little ones. No matter how incredible a teacher is, there is nothing quite like the personal, individual attention we can give our own little ones.

So, if your child is showing an interest, summer is the perfect time for them to learn the alphabet (or learn to read!) with you as their loving guide.

Learn to Read in 60 Simple Lessons

Before we get into all of the summery alphabet games and activities, there’s something very important I need to share with you. When teaching children letters, it is very important that you do so in a specific order. With this letter order, reading flows naturally!

You can read all about that letter order in this blog post: Teaching Letter Recognition.

But it doesn’t stop at just a blog post…

Since this has been such a popular and powerful topic, the teacher in me could not help but write an entire resource for you!

How Wee Read is my complete learn-to-read resource. It covers it all, from rhyming to reading in 70 sequential, simple, and playful lessons:

• Step One: Phonological Awareness (7 lessons)
• Step Two: Letters, Sounds, and Blending (12 lessons)
• Step Three: Special Rules (4 lessons)
• Step Four: Decodable Readers (47 lessons)

Whether your child is showing interest in learning their letters and sounds, or you have an early reader who is struggling, this summer is the perfect time to play your way through How Wee Read!

Free Honey Bee Alphabet Cards

One last thing before we get into the summer alphabet games and activities: I think you’ll absolutely love these FREE Honey Bee Alphabet Cards! 

Each letter includes a term related to bees, beekeeping, or flowers that attract bees—perfect for playing Go Fish, using in a scavenger hunt, and learning some new words. They also look sweet as honey clipped to a piece of twine and hung up in your learning space!

Grab your copy right here:

Summer Alphabet Games and Activities

Now, let’s get into the alphabet games and activities, perfect for the summertime!

Watermelon Seed Letters – This is a fun summer quiet bin for the kids! They can use “watermelon seeds” to form letters on color-coordinated plates.

Beginning Letters Toy Scoop – Plop some toys in a kiddie pool (or simply hide them around the yard for your child to find). As your child scoops up a toy from the water, they can match it to chalk-drawn letters, for example, placing the block by the letter B.

Icy, Fizzing Letters from Fun-A-Day – Add some science to the letter learning with this experiment. Children can make (and dissolve!) scented icy letters.

Painting Sugar Letters from Still Playing School – Children can manipulate sugar cubes into letters, then have fun painting them with eye droppers. A bit of science and literacy all rolled into one!

Alphabet Learning with Chalk and Rocks from And Next Comes L – What’s summertime without a bit of chalk play? Let the children trace over letters on the sidewalk with rocks found in the backyard.

Dump Truck Alphabet Rocks Activity from Mom Inspired Life – Add these alphabet rocks and some dump trucks to the sandbox. Kids can identify the letters as they build and transport them around the sand.

Alphabet Ice Block Play from The Imagination Tree – Kids can cool down as they play with alphabet ice! They can name the letters, make words, and explore ice melting.

Pool Noodle Alphabet Basket from The Educators’ Spin On It – These homemade pool noodle letters are super easy to make. Set them in a basket and see how the kids explore them.

Letters in the Air from Rainy Day Mum – Lay outside in the grass on a nice summer day and help the kids make letters in the air using their feet (or hands). Look for some alphabet-shaped clouds, too.

Gold Coin Alphabet Treasure Hunt from Fun-A-Day – Let the kids pretend to be pirates hunting for alphabet treasure. These gold coins can be hidden in a variety of materials or even just the sandbox in the yard.

Alphabet Ice Cube Sensory Play from Stir the Wonder – Ice is always a hit in the summer! Why not freeze some letters in the next batch and let the kids explore?

ABC Sidewalk Chalk Game from Buggy and Buddy – Set up a big alphabet grid outside, then challenge the kids to alphabet games!

Alphabet Ocean Sensory Bin from Mom Inspired Life – Shells, ocean animals, and water is all that’s needed for this sensory bin. Add some letters to the shell and explore letter names and sounds.

Say and Spray Alphabet Activity from A Dab of Glue Will Do – Let the children have a blast with water bottles! After identifying chalk letters, the kids can spray them with water.

Alphabet Sensory Play from Teaching 2 and 3 Year Olds – Set this up outside if the weather’s nice, or bring it inside if not. So simple, but such an engaging way to play with letters!

Make and Match Shell Letters from No Time for Flash Cards – Kids can use their shell collection to make letters in playdough!

Ocean Sensory Writing Tray from The Imagination Tree – Children can write and draw in this beautiful ocean-themed writing tray. Great for inside play on a stormy summer day.

ABC Eruptions from Learn~Play~Imagine – Take chalk art to another level with these alphabet eruptions! Create special chalk paint that erupts without water, and then let the kids practice their letters.

Alphabet Fine Motor Busy Bag from Coffee Cups and Crayons – Put together a sunshine-themed alphabet busy bug for some summer downtime.

Alphabet Bug Spray from Toddler Approved – Insect-loving kids can have fun finding alphabet bugs all over the driveway!

Alphabet Stick Flags from Growing Book by Book – Let the kids put their stick collections to a new use with these alphabet flags. Then set about playing different ABC games during the summer.

Magnetic Fishing Game by Mas and Pas – Challenge your little one to fish for a certain letter, or have them catch a fish and tell you what they caught!

Outdoor Alphabet Activity by Sprouting Wild Ones – If you have a little one who loves to use a camera, this is for them! While on a nature walk, see if you can find or make all of the letters your child is currently learning, their name letters, or maybe even the entire alphabet.

Letter Matching Roads by The Educators’ Spin On It – This one is so simple to set up! Simply draw some uppercase and lowercase letters, then connect the letters with curvy, overlapping lines. Your little one can zoom the toy cards through the twisty roads connecting the letter pairs.

 

Hopefully these alphabet games and activities give you an idea or two for your little ones!

And remember, keep it light and have fun! This is the beginning of a lifetime of learning and a love of reading.

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