{Toddler Tuesdays} Popsicle Stick Puzzles

Building on your child's play can help them with early literacy and letter recognition. Today I have put together a tutorial on how to make your own word puzzles. Depending on the age of your child, you can make the words longer or shorter. You can even do a picture of an apple with only the letter "A" on the puzzle.

For this project, you will need:

• Popsicle sticks {the fat ones are better for the younger ones}


• A printed picture of a simple word such as "corn" or "pig" {or you can draw your own}


• Glue or Modge Podge


• A razor {unless you are drawing your own picture onto the sticks}

You can also laminate the picture for a longer lasting puzzle if you choose to. If you do not have access to a lamination machine, I usually put packing tape on each side to cover the picture and cut around the edges.  

1. Line up your Popsicle sticks {as many sticks as the letters of your word}  and place masking tape to hold them in place & turn over.


2. With a Sharpie marker, write one letter of the word on each stick {if you are writing one letter you can write it over a few sticks}


3. Glue on your picture and let it dry {if you laminated your photo you can use hot glue}.


4. When dry, remove masking tape and carefully use a razor through the sticks to cut back into separate pieces. 


5. Help your child put the puzzle together {give your child a chance to try before helping} For Bug I usually put them on the table in the correct order and she pushes them together.

{Don't mind the naked baby, she's potty training!}

Remember to talk to your child as you put the puzzle together. Say each letter as they grab a stick and say the sound that letter makes. Ask questions and interact. {"What do you think this will be a picture of?"} Most of all, have fun! 

Shared on:

http://www.icanteachmychild.com/2011/08/show-and-share-saturday-link-up-4/