Make Your Own Tactile Letter Cards

Children learn about the world around them through their senses: seeing, hearing, smelling, and tasting. And of course…

Children Learn by Touching

Here at All About Learning Press, we’re really big on the multisensory approach because learning is so much more effective when children learn through all their senses. Our tactile letter cards provide a great multisensory way for little ones to learn about the alphabet.

Our free download includes uppercase and lowercase letter templates, instructions for creating your tactile letter cards, and tips for using your cards. Ready to go?

Instructions for Tactile Letter Cards

1. Print the uppercase and lowercase letter card pages contained in this activity download. Cut out the letter cards.
2. Prepare the colored sand using the simple instructions in the PDF.
3. Spread glue in the shape of the letters, sprinkle with colored sand, and let dry thoroughly. The cards are ready to use!

Playing with Tactile Letter Cards

There are so many ways to use the tactile letter cards.

As your child learns the names and sounds of each letter, have her feel the letter as she says the name or sound.

Is your child ready for more? Use both sets of cards to help your child begin to recognize and match uppercase and lowercase letters.

Older children can be encouraged to use the letter cards to spell their names or short words.

Other Materials for Tactile Letter Cards

If you’d like to make tactile letter cards but don’t want to make colored sand, that’s okay! We’ve got more great ideas for you. You can make tactile cards with all kinds of materials. In addition to our colored sand cards, we made cards using glitter, pipe cleaners, rice, dried mung beans, and fabric. Aren’t they awesome?

Have you made tactile letter cards? What materials did you use? Let us know in the comments below!

If your child enjoyed this hands-on letter recognition activity, why don’t you try some of our other letter recognition activities, too?