Self-Correcting Alphabet Letter Puzzles

MATCHING GAME: Separate several interlocked puzzles into two pieces. Place the alphabet and picture pieces face up into separate piles. Select one alphabet piece and name the letter. Ask the child to match the alphabet piece to the correct picture piece and identify the picture aloud. Ask the child to make the letter's sound and trace over the upper and lower case letters with a finger. Increase the number of puzzles used as the child's ability to match pieces improves.

LETTERS, SOUNDS, AND WORDS: Line up the interlocked puzzles in alphabetical order. Beginning with "Aa", name the letter aloud and make the "a" sound used in the word "apple." Point to the apple picture and say, "A is for 'Apple'." Encourage the child to repeat what you say. Continue in alphabetical order.

LETTER RECOGNITION: Line up several interlocked puzzles in alphabetical order. Point to each letter in order, making its sound aloud and encouraging the child to do the same. Ask the child to finger-trace the upper and lower case versions of each letter. Repeat this activity, pointing to letters in random order. Add more puzzles when the child is ready. Repeat this activity until the child can name and make the correct sounds for all 26 letters.

SORTING ACTIVITY: Place one alphabet piece plus all of the picture pieces face up in front of the child. Ask the child to find pictures which contain the selected letter in their word. For example, "Ss" would be found in several words: horse, moose, octopus, and seal.

COLOR RECOGNITION: Line up several interlocked puzzles. Point to and name different colors found on the puzzles. Encourage the child to name the colors aloud with you. Ask the child to count the colors found on individual puzzles.

MEMORY GAME: Place several alphabet or picture pieces face up in front of the child. Ask the child to memorize the pieces and close her/his eyes. Remove one piece and explain that one is missing. The child should open his/her eyes and describe the missing piece. Increase the number of pieces used as the child's memory skills grow.

GRAB BAG GAME: (for 2 to 4 players) Distribute an equal number of interlocked puzzles to each player: 2 players get 13 puzzles each, 3 players get 8 each, and 4 players get 6 each. Remove extra puzzles from play. Players separate their puzzles into two pieces and put the picture pieces into one large paper bag or pillowcase. The youngest player goes first, reaching into the bag without peeking. Players use their hands to examine the shape of the picture pieces, trying to find a piece to interlock with one of their alphabet pieces. If the chosen picture piece matches one of that player's alphabet pieces, the player must name the picture, the letter or make the letter's sound aloud before interlocking the pieces. If the selected picture piece does not match, it goes back in the bag. Play moves to the right until one player's puzzles are all completed.

PICK THE PICTURE: Place several picture pieces in front of the child. Without touching any pieces, secretly choose one. Give hints to help the child determine which picture you chose. For example, you might say, "This picture shows an animal you might see at a zoo. It has stripes. It can climb trees." Remove picture pieces from the play surface as they are eliminated by clues. The solution to these clues is the tiger. Encourage the child to match the picture piece with the correct alphabet piece.

STORY TIME: Lay all of the picture pieces face up and inspire the child's creativity by using the pictures as details in a story you make up together. For example, you might say, "Let's take a special trip to the zoo today! Should we fly in a jet, ride a horse or drive a car? Which animals will we see? What will we eat for lunch?" Encourage the child to use her/his imagination and have fun!