Quick Activities for Parents

Lunchbox Notes

Write a short note to your child once a week and include it in their school lunch.

This will help them practice reading and become more familiar with your handwriting. Plus, the joy your note brings them will likely help them conquer the rest of their day!

Play Tic-Tac-Toe!

This classic activity helps reinforce important early handwriting skills for young learners. The X and O consist of three basic strokes that are used to write letters, which are so important to master.

You can also switch it up and use another set of letters, such as an A and a B or the first initial of each player’s name.

This is great practice for kids just learning to write the letters of the alphabet!

Gift Tag Activity

Have kids make their own gift tags when they give gifts for holidays, birthdays, or other special occasions! They can get creative by writing in different colors, adding stickers, or drawing pictures on their tags. The possibilities are endless!

Consider using some fun ribbons to attach the tags to gifts (tying builds fine motor skills!).

For a template to help you get started, take a look at our Gift Tag Activity free printables!

Seasons: What’s Changed?

Help your kids observe their environment and use thinking skills! Ask your kids to fold a piece of paper in half. Have them draw a picture of summer on the left and a picture of fall on the right. They can also add descriptive words or sentences to each picture.

Ask them to write down three changes they’ve noticed as we move from one season to the next. Then, discuss the differences with your kids.

Weather Words

Ask your kids to draw a picture of the weather today and write about it. Then, ask them to draw and label other weather (rain, sun, snow, wind, etc.).

Try using our Draw and Write free printable!

My Routine

Ask your kids to think about their morning on a school day. For example:

• I wake up.
• I get dressed.
• I eat breakfast.
• I brush my teeth.
• I pack my backpack.

They can draw each step and write about it to help them remember what to do.  Try using our free printable draw & write templates!

Motor Skills with Leaves

Supplies Needed: leaves, blank white paper, and crayons with wrappers removed

Ask your kids to pick one leaf and cover the leaf with the paper. (It helps to place the leaf face down.)

While holding the paper down so the leaf doesn’t move, rub the side of the crayon over the leaf. Your kids will be amazed at the patterns that unfold before their eyes!

Reading & Riding

You can reinforce letter recognition with your kids while traveling in the car! Simply ask your kids to tell you the letters, numbers, and words they see on street signs and license plates. Or, to work on recognizing specific letters, pick a letter and count how many times your kids find that letter on your trip!

Handmade Cards

Encourage your children to make their own cards for friends and family celebrating birthdays or other special occasions. They can get creative by writing in different colors, adding stickers, or drawing pictures on their cards.

Homemade Pictionary

On small pieces of paper, have your child(ren) write down a person, place, or thing. They can be completely unrelated, or you can stick to a theme like Winter, Animals, or Sports. Try to do at least 20 papers, so there’s a lot to choose from!

Place the papers into a jar and have one person at a time select a paper. That person will draw what’s on the paper while the others try to guess what it is. The person who guesses first gets to keep the paper. Whoever has the most papers at the end wins!

Writing Notes

Encourage your child to write a note to someone in the house each day. It can be as simple as “Hello!” Use a chalkboard, dry erase board, or paper.