WY Quality Counts

Date: 5/18/2012, by Autourina Mains
Age Group(s): Preschool
Estimated Duration: 15 minutes
Development Areas: Cognitive Development, Motor Skills, Social-Emotional, Language, Early Literacy
Materials Needed: cut outs of symbols/photos, crayons, safety pins
Related Articles: Picking the Right Preschool

When preschoolers start school, it is hard for them to learn their classmates’ names. This activity will help them relate a symbol to each child (as we put a name to each adult we meet). Cut out different symbols (butterfly, kite, balloon, triangle, circle, square, rectangle, star, flower, cloud, etc) and spread them out on a table. Let the preschooler choose a symbol. Write the child’s name on his/her symbol or if the child is able to write his/her name, let them. Provide crayons so the child can decorate and color the symbol (take out dark color crayons as they will cover the child’s name). Pin the symbol/name tag to the child. I often had multiple children with the same name (Jasmine for instance) and it was nice to have symbols because the children were able to distinguish the children ‘Jasmine the flower.’ The symbols give the children another form of identification and reading symbols is an early literacy skill.

WY Quality Counts

Latest Activities

Trail Mix Chocolate Treat

Grateful Journal

Portable First Aid Kit

Activity: Name Symbols