Last spring we took our son to Kindergarten Round Up. In one of the rooms there were shoebox-sized boxes. Each box represented a different letter and was filled with an assortment of items starting with that letter. Needless to say when we got home, all he could talk about was the letter boxes and how we needed to make some for our house.
Over the next several weeks I found some reasonably priced small boxes with lids and we proceeded to gather items to place into each box. First we went through his room and selected items that would fit in the boxes. Then we looked throughout the house for additional things. After that we made a list of the letter boxes that were low on items, and I went on a search of the dollar stores, bargain bins, and craft stores to complete our collections. We labeled the boxes on the lid and side so that we knew what went together. I used the free Play Dough Mats, Wall Posters or Flashcards download from All ABCs. I liked this download because I could print multiple letters on a page and resize it. I ended up printing a larger tag for the top of the box and a smaller tag for the side of the box. We used clear package tape to secure the tags on the boxes. He loved those boxes and would play with them for hours. Then over the summer they were delegated to the closet, and he explored them less and less, but they still came out occasionally.
Then all of a sudden there has been a renewed interest in the letter boxes. So recently we moved them back out so that he has easy access. Each day he comes out of his room and asks about things that start with “so and so” letter. He is constantly looking through magazines, catalogs, and anything else he can get his hands on and cutting out pictures of things starting with the letter. Now he is also cutting out words that start with the letter as well.
Today I wanted to share a list of ideas for things you could include in your own letter boxes. Have fun! We had such a good time creating these boxes together. I hope you do as well!
Have a Great Week!
Lisa
ABC Boxes
Aa | apple, ant, alligator, ax, acorn, artichoke, alarm clock, ace, arctic wolf, airplane, anchor, angel, arch, |
Bb | beach ball, blast board, book, bookmark, bear, rubber ball, blimp, bandana, brush, Band-Aid, bell, banana, bowl, block, blue, bottle cap, broccoli, bobber, beluga whale, bone, balloon, basket, bow, barrette, beads, buttons, box, bat, bookmark, barn, bird, birdhouse, bubbles, bottle, baby, belt, butterfly, boat, bag, beans, bed, bang |
Cc | Clifford, cheetah, coin, cat, car, crayon, cookie, cake, candle, cupcake, can, cow, coke, cup, candy, card, comb, cards, coconut tree, cap, collar, candy cane, caterpillar, calendar, carrot, calculator, corn, cotton ball, chap stick, caribou, chopsticks, cross, cactus, chicks, chicken, coffee coupon |
Dd | dog, doll, deer, donkey, dime, dollar, dinosaur, duck, dolphin. dump truck, dice, dirt, dominos, Daisy Duck, Donald Duck, door, “Do Not Enter” sign, drum, |
Ee | Earth, egg, elephant, envelope, eraser, eggplant, Eskimos, eight, eyes |
Ff | fish, fan, fingernail file, fork, firetruck, farmer, feather, foot, football, fence, Frisbee, football player, Flash, fruit, flower, fingerprint, flashlight, fairy |
Gg | goat, ghost, game, gold coin, gorilla, gift, Goofy, grass, glove, globe, guitar, grapes, Green Lantern, glue stick, giraffe |
Hh | Hand, hammer, hat, horse, hamburger, hotdog, helmet, heart, hair, hippopotamus, hay bale, Honeybee, huskie dog, harp seal, handkerchief |
Ii | ice cream cone, invitation, Indian corn, igloo, ice skates, ivy |
Jj | jump rope, jacks, jeep, jack-o-lantern, jar, jellybeans, jam, juice, joker |
Kk | kangaroo, kite, key, king, ketchup, keychain, kazoo, koala bear, komodo dragon, knight |
Ll | Lollipop, list, ladybug, lion, lei, lemon, lime, lipstick, leaf, Lego, letters, letter, lamb, Liberty Bell, leprechaun, log |
Mm | marker, monkey, mask, milk, marble, moon, mailbox, motorcycle, magnet, mitten, map, mouse, microwave, money, marshmallows, macaroni, maracas, mirror, mower, mail truck, Mater, Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse |
Nn | napkin, nail, nickel, numbers, necklace, nut, newspaper, notebook, nametag, names (list), notebook, Nemo, NASCAR, nail clippers, nest, nail file |
Oo | octopus, orange, oval, owl, Olympics, olive |
Pp | pen, pencil, paper, penny, paperclip, picture, pipe cleaner, paint brush, pig, pickle, puppet, palm tree, ponytail holder, purse, pumpkin, pony, policeman, pillow, pan, pot, pear, pineapple, potato, pompom, potholder, pinecone, poinsettia, puzzle, pin, puzzle piece, play dough, picture, Purdue, Pluto, ping pong ball, polar bear, paper plate, piston cup, parsnip, paper towel |
quarter, queen, quilt, Q-tip, quartz | |
Rr | ruler, rose, ring, ribbon, rainbow, rug, rubber band, reindeer, rock, rat, raisins, radio, rice, recycle, rocket, rabbit, red, Railroad sign, rhinoceros |
Ss | scissors, spoon, sucker, string, sunglasses, sock, soap, Santa, seahorse, sand, Super Man, sushi, star, seal, shark, snowplow, Saki, saw, speed limit sign, stripes, spool, Scooby Doo, Snoopy, skateboard, soccer, strawberry, shamrock, snake, stop sign, safety pin |
Tt | toothbrush, tape, telephone, tiger, tie, tomato, tag, turkey, toaster, toothpicks, truck, tractor, taxi, turtle, tee pee, traffic light, tissue, toilet paper, tennis racquet, triangle, ticket, tree, tent |
Uu | paper umbrella, unicycle, underwear, unicorn, umpire |
Vv | valentine, vase, van, violin, Velcro, velociraptor, votive candle, vegetables, Vee (from Chuggington), vest, vise |
Ww | wagon, wheel, washcloth, worm, Winnie the Pooh, watch, wallet, witch, whistle, wiggle eyes, wood, wallpaper, window, wand, walrus, whale, wooden nickel, windmill |
Xx | x-ray, xylophone, x marks the spot |
Yy | yarn, yogurt container, yellow, yo-yo, yield sign, yeti |
zz | zebra, zipper, zig zag, zero, zoo keeper |
*Alphabet puzzles make a great resource to break apart into each letter box.
Printable List of ABC Box Ideas
From The Virtual Vine
From Wildflower Ramblings
From Momma’s Fun World
From The Homeschool Village
From Pink and Green Mama