Educational Resources Need Not Be Expensive

Let's face it there are some amazing games and educational resources out there, some of them cost an arm and a leg. I know my own girls had mini toy laptops and interactive alphabet games and resources which I thought at the time were not only important for their development but also essential.

Who remembers good old fashioned alphabet magnets? They are inexpensive, easily manipulated by little hands and with a little direction, can teach many important early reading skills. Alphabet magnets can be purchased from toy stores, discount stores or online. Try Smart Kids or Little Learners Love Literacy to purchase online.

Try the lower case magnets and see if child can identify the sound or locate the letter if you say the sound. Can they generate words beginning with a sound? Or even words that end in a particular sound? You could group alphabet shapes eg. those with a tail - p, g, y, j or use mini whiteboards and marker to write their own sounds.