Tactile letter activities are an amazing way to help kids explore the alphabet. Tactile means connecting with the sense of touch, so these activities are designed for kids to explore the alphabet using their fingers. When they trace the letters, they are learning the strokes and shape of the letter to prepare them for writing in the future.

For this activity, we used pieces of foam to construct the letter D. All of the alphabet letters include either straight lines, diagonal lines, and/or big and little curves and this experience helped students perceive how these components fused together to create a larger picture. Before preschoolers begin to read or spell, they must learn the letters of the alphabet and the sounds they represent. Learning to pair letters and sounds helps prepare preschool children for later reading.