Preview draft. Activities have not been tested with caregivers.
Learning · The activity desk
J and S sound sketches
Draw familiar words and listen for their first sounds.
Let's play →
A little plan for play
Open interactive activity →Add to play journal →What you need
A full sheet of paper and large child-appropriate crayons
Age: 3–5 years; choose for the individual child.
Stay with the child throughout. Check the space and supplies, including anything within reach of younger siblings. Skip any activity that is unsuitable. Stop if a child puts non-food material in their mouth or becomes distressed. Use intact books, full sheets of paper, a large child-appropriate crayon and a clean, dry towel. Follow product labels; remove torn paper and keep broken crayons and caps away from children. Adult handles and stores supplies.
Set up: An adult divides the paper into two spaces and writes a large J in one and S in the other.
Adult's role: Say words slowly, help with drawing or writing if invited, and accept pointing or gestures as well as speech.
Let's make it happen
- Say jar and sun slowly. Listen to the different sounds at the beginning.
- Draw a jar in the J space and a sun in the S space, or ask an adult to draw with you.
- Think of another familiar word beginning with either sound and add a picture, if you wish.
Make it simpler: Choose one word and draw it together while the adult names its first sound.
Clean up: Put crayons away and save or recycle the drawing.
Stay nearby while young children use crayons and remove broken pieces. Stop whenever the child wants a break.