Learning Letters through Lunch! Toddler Activity
General, How To — By Shannon Schmid on January 26, 2011 at 7:43 pmMy daughter is almost two and a half, and I’ve been trying to slowly introduce the alphabet to her. I was brainstorming toddler activities when I came up with a plan! I want her to realize how fun it is to learn new things- so I tried to make this introduction to letters educational -AND yummy!
We had a day where letters were everywhere, including in the food she ate!
-While mommy was cooking we sang the A B C’s and played with foam letters!
- I found some large size Alphabet Fries from Ian’s Natural Foods. I got mine from Whole Foods, but I’m sure you could find them in the frozen food section for children at other stores too. They are called Alphatots.
-I showed the pumpkin each letter as I put it on her plate, and made the sound that goes with it. And I would re-arrange her letters to make new words. She loved it, and mixed the fries up herself to hear mommy sound out her made up words!
-Later that same day, I made Sopa de Fideo (Mexican Alphabet Soup) for dinner! I made a big pot of it, and it was absolutely DELIGHTFUL on a cold day!
I found the recipe on Esther’s blog, Laughwithusblog. I highly suggest checking out the recipe! It takes very few ingredients and is a very frugal meal as well.
- As you can see my toddler was psyched to see letters in her soup! I showed her how each spoonful had letters in it, and she would show me her spoon before taking bites. I’d name the letters and then she would.
What tricks do you have for getting toddlers excited about learning letters?
*PS. If your the parent of a Toddler who is potty Training, be sure to enter the Potty Training Giveaway here!
Related posts:
- Toddler Activity:Edible Winter Sensory Tub
- A Toddler Activity: Sensory Tub for Fall
- Kid Activity: Make a Water Scope
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24 Comments
The soup looks wonderful. What a great way to work on letters. We sing the alphabet when we wash JDaniel’s hands.
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MilkandCuddles Reply:
January 26th, 2011 at 8:17 pm
@JDaniel4′s Mom, That is such a super idea!! It woul dmake sure you wash hands long enough…and teach the letters! Awesome!
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I love your post! Thank you so much for linking to my blog. I’ve never seen the letter fries. I’ll have to look for them!
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MilkandCuddles Reply:
January 26th, 2011 at 8:18 pm
@laughwithusblog, Thank YOU for sharing such a great family friendly recipe- I can see why your kids request it!
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I just love when learning is fun like this. I was over at Quirky Momma’s site just a bit ago and she has a fun activity for learning letters too, I had to tweet is. I’m tweeting this too. Love the Alphatots.
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MilkandCuddles Reply:
January 26th, 2011 at 8:19 pm
@Lori, Thanks Lori! I was pretty excited to find the alphatots! They are pretty yummy for mommies as well…hehe. Thanks for the tweet! That is super sweet!!
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What great ways to incorporate learning! And I’m not ashamed to admit, I might like to play with those alphatots myself!
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MilkandCuddles Reply:
January 27th, 2011 at 4:43 pm
@The Momma, Actually playing with them as an adult might be super fun too- you could use them to spell a word or love message on your partners plate- or your own! Thanks for dropping by:)
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She is so cute! Yay for learning letters. I, personally, still love to sing the ABC’s!
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MilkandCuddles Reply:
January 27th, 2011 at 4:42 pm
@Angelia Sims Hardy, I love the ABC song too Angelia! So fun to get to play and sing again when your with little ones!
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Alphatots look yummy! I would love them if I was a kid too.
My kids loved to write in a pie pan of rice (non-cooked) We make a letter and then mix it up and make another one.
You’re very creative.
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MilkandCuddles Reply:
January 27th, 2011 at 4:41 pm
@Simone, Thank you so much Simone! The alphatots are equally fun as adults! I can testify to that!
I love your dry rice idea- that is a super tip, thanks for sharing it!
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What fun!!
That’s a great way to learn the alphabet.
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I absolutely LOVE your site…and this post was GREAT! As a former kindergarten and Head Start teacher, mom of 3 (all grown with children of their own) and author of a book for parents of preschoolers that provides picture book suggestions, crafts and healthful recipes, I am always thrilled to see moms that are really on top of things. By creating educational fun-filled activities for your child…and by participating SO positively with her…you are an inspiration to moms everywhere!
I’ll definitely try the soup! If it works for me, I might have to ask yur permission to use it in my next book.
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Hi,
or me. 
Just posted a comment…but I see my name got kind of messed up…computers.
Anyway, the name window should have said Vivian Kirkfield
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LOVE this Shan!!! that is such a great idea to introduce letters with food! love it!! and healthy and frugal food no less! I never knew there were fries in letters, i’m totally making them:)
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MilkandCuddles Reply:
January 27th, 2011 at 4:40 pm
@Nikki, Thanks Nik Nik! You should click the link that has the recipe for the Mexican Alphabet soup! It was SO yummy easy! I may have to try your Chicken soup next! thanks for sending it to me! Love ya! Stay warm in all that snow your getting!
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Love all of the alphabet ideas. I am definitely going this to my sister to work on with my niece. My niece is asking me how to read and pronounce letters and so this is perfect. Thanks for the great idea.
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Those alphabet fries are the coolest. I’ve never seen them around here, but we’re always the last to get the latest and greatest in the stores.
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with fun activities your little one is certain to learn her letters. good ideas. Gramie
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The soup looks yummy! I know mine likes to get the letters out of alphabet soup and make up words during lunch. In fact, she was doing it just yesterday, asking me what she just “wrote”.
Learning is truly everywhere.
Visiting from Mom Loop.
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Popping over from mom loop comment Friday. I’m loving exploring your blog! This post is too cute. It’s so fun to find ways to incorporate “learning” into your day….that’s *exactly* what I try to do with families who I work with as a speech therapist!
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How sweet. Love it.
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