Tactile Letters

Tactile letters are a great resource for helping students learn the alphabet.  Children are able to physically FEEL the letters instead of just seeing them.  Research shows that children learn best when we use a multisensory approach.  Preschoolers who are just getting exposed to the alphabet truly benefit from hands on alphabet activities like this.

Tactile letters can be expensive to purchase, so I’ve found a way to make them myself and save money.  Plus, who doesn’t love a good DIY project?  I know I do!  Keep reading for a list of materials and steps you need to make your own Tactile Alphabet cards.  But first, let’s learn why you should even care about this DIY project!

Benefits of Using Tactile Letters

Children who use tactile letter cards make important touch to brain connections that are critical for learning the alphabet.  These alphabet manipulatives make something as abstract as the concept of a “letter” come to life in a tangible way.  As children trace the tactile alphabet card, they also help reinforce the path of motion needed to correctly form letters.

If children are struggling through other modalities like seeing or hearing, then touch can definitely help them develop skills they are struggling with.  Combined with seeing and hearing the letters and letter sounds, these alphabet touch cards will ensure that your preschoolers and kindergartners master the alphabet (and have fun while doing it!)

Quick and Easy DIY Tactile Letters

There are all kinds of ways you can make tactile alphabet cards.  Most involve glue, sand, and glitter.  However, I’ve found a low-cost, SUPER quick and easy way to make them.  All you’ll need are: some laminated card stock and some felt letter stickers.  Yep!  It doesn’t get any cheaper or easier than that, does it?

I love to use bright and colorful Astrobrights card stock for classroom projects because it doesn’t fade like construction paper does.  I printed out a cute little doodle border on my card stock, laminated it with thicker laminating pouches (just to give the cards some extra durability so they’ll last for years to come!), and then cut out each card.

Next, I added one felt letter sticker to each card.  You can often find felt letter stickers at the Target Dollar Spot.  If you don’t see them there, you can always order them from Amazon!

Finally, I punched a hole in the corner of each card and put them all together on a jumbo ring clip.

Ideas for Using Your Tactile Letter Cards

1.  Put a command hook in your writing or alphabet center and hang the letters up using a ring clip.
2. When you introduce a new letter, pass the tactile letter card around for students to feel.
3. Place several cards in a brown paper bag.  Have students reach in and feel a letter to see if they can guess what it is.
4. Encourage children to make the letter sound as they finger trace the letter on the card.
5. Let students use the cards to spell out CVC words.  As they touch each letter, they can make its sound and then blend the sounds to make a word.

Materials to Make Your Own Letter Cards

The following are affiliate links. Purchasing from these links will not cost you any additional money but the small commission I earn enables me to keep sharing great content and freebies!

• Felt Letter Stickers
• Thick Laminating Pouches
• Astrobrights Card Stock
• Jumbo Ring Clips

Download this FREE printable card template so you can laminate the pages and then add your own felt stickers to each card.  Voila!  You now have your own set of tactile alphabet cards for your little learners.

You can find more hands on alphabet activities on this post.

Find my favorite Youtube videos for teaching the alphabet HERE.