Preview draft. Activities have not been tested with caregivers.
Art · The activity desk
Patterned alphabet art
Color a patterned letter and add your own repeating marks.
Let's play →
A little plan for play
Open interactive activity →Add to play journal →What you need
The patterned alphabet pages or a full sheet of paper, plus 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: Open and print a chosen patterned alphabet page, or draw one large outlined letter on paper and add repeating marks inside it.
Adult's role: Help choose and print a page or draw the outline. Let the child invent their own pattern.
Let's make it happen
- Choose a letter and look at the repeating marks inside it.
- Color the spaces between the lines, dots, or waves.
- Add your own pattern or a drawing around the letter if you like.
Make it simpler: Add a few dots inside one letter together.
Clean up: Put crayons away and save or recycle the picture.
Stay nearby while young children use crayons and remove broken pieces.