Alphabet Ball

By Claudea Blythe

Find out just how fun learning the alphabet can be! Alphabet Ball is a great way to help your preschooler learn the alphabet and the sounds each letter makes. The more the game is played, the better your preschooler will become at saying the alphabet and identifying the the sounds. The game can be modified to play with different aged preschoolers at different knowledge levels. This variation of hot potato is not only educational, but fun! Add to the excitement by inviting more preschooler to play along.

What You Will Need

A light weight rubber ball (a blown up latex balloon can also be used and is ideals for smaller hands)

A small uncluttered space

How To Play

1. Have your preschoolers form a circle, one way to get a nicely spaced circle is to ask the preschoolers to hold hands and then take a step back, once they've done that they may let go of each others hands. 

2. Explain that each person who gets the ball is to name the alphabet that comes next. For example, you will start the game by saying "A" and then pass the ball on to the next person who will then say "B" and so on.

3. When a preschooler drops the ball, ask him/her to make the sound of the letter that was last said.

Note: You can begin the game slowly so that every one will have a chance to say a letter and get the game going. Once you've gotten one round of alphabets going you will want to speed up the pace. 

Make It More Challenging

Older preschoolers may welcome a more challenging Alphabet Ball game and you can meet their needs by adding a little twist to this preschool game. Explain to your preschooler that when he/she drops the ball they will need to call out a word that begins with the letter that they were to call out. For example, the next letter to be called out is the letter "n" but the ball drops to the floor. Once your preschooler retrieves the ball he/she will have to use a word such as "nail" to continue play. This will help your preschooler to think about the sound of the letter as it is used in a word.  

Variation Of This Game

Another way to enjoy playing Alphabet Ball is to simply have your preschoolers form a circle and begin passing the ball to each other. In the meantime, parent/teacher will be singing the alphabet song. Begin singing the song slowly at first and then gradually speed up the song. The quick pace of the song will elicit excitement in your preschoolers and prompt them to pass the ball on quicker. The preschooler left holding the ball at the end of the song will be asked to sing the song during the next round of the game.

Preschoolers love games that include a ball and music! Instead of singing the alphabet song you may opt to play a cd of the alphabet song. By stopping the song unexpectedly several times during the game, you can achieve the same excitement as you would from speeding up the pace of the song while singing it. Your preschooler will love it!

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