Reversible Alphabet Board

Give your Preschooler, Kindergartener or First Grader a kinesthetic and positive experience when learning to write the letters of the alphabet with this reversible tracing board.

So often kiddos get frustrated when they write their letters on sheets of paper that have dotted letters underneath. Their fingers are clumsy and they wobble off the line, either from holding their pens or pencils incorrectly (sometimes as the result of lack of strength, or sometimes from old habits, or sometimes just from not knowing how they should be holding it), or not having developed the fine motor skill yet to draw that "ball" into the right shape.

The reversible alphabet board has grooved letters (not to be confused with groovy letters, although we think they are groovy - but we'll let you decide!) that allow for little ones as young as 2 years old to trace the letters with their fingers. Once you feel they're ready to grip a writing instrument (and those fingers can be strengthened with the Peek-a-Boo acorns, the pinching tongs from the Rainbow Mini Balls set, the Pincer/Palmer set, and the Bow and Arrow set) present them with the wooden stylus.

As their fingers and stylus work around the letters, your early schooler's fingers and wrist develop the muscle memory of creating the shapes needed to produce their own letters.

The board can be made with reversible capital letters on one side and lower case on the other, or as individual boards with only capitals on one side, or lower case on the other side.

The shapes of the letters have been researched and are the most commonly taught versions in Preschool, Kindergarten and First Grade classrooms, with the "true lowercase a", the proper-shaped lowercase "j" (with a hook like an umbrella handle on the end), the lowercase "k" that connects mid-point to create a more fluid motion when writing, and a lowercase "q" with an upper stroke at 45 degrees from the bottom.

WAYS TO USE THIS BOARD

In a classroom where often children work in groups, you can place one board with capital letters and another with lower case. Children can use dry sensory materials like play dough, dried rice, dried beans, beads, flower petals, or even pom poms to fill the grooves and create colourful connections to the letters. You can pick a theme (for example autumn or winter or spring) and offer materials that match, or you can highlight certain letters only for children to focus on. If students are practicing their letter formation, they can work one-on-one with the board, or have the board available as a reference and a quick reminder about how it feels to shape a particular letter (This is more applicable to those who have become comfortable with forming their letters and have had some practice producing them on their own.)

In the homeschool classroom, you can set the board on the table or shelf as a reference tool, or create wonderful works of art through natural materials that you gather on forest walks or from around the house, and place in the grooves. You can set out letters from a moveable alphabet and ask your child or children to put their sensory materials in only the letters set out (essentially matching), or have them "fill in" the letters of their name, or do a host of other creative activities.

The board also makes a stunning decorative piece to any shelf in the home.

Research has shown how powerful sensory connections can be to young minds, and presenting this board at an early age just to start tracing the letters can create long-lasting neuro-connections that fire at a later age when the production of letters is required.

Please note that little fingers and wrists can't be forced to develop muscles and bone strength before they are ready. Just like walking, producing letters happens at different rates for different children. We strongly encourage creative exploration of this board in place of pressured practice. Your child will be more excited to connect with letters if he or she can come to the realization of them on his or her own terms.

THE DETAILS

The reversible alphabet board is made from Canadian maple that is locally sourced and finished with a vegan wax and oil that is 100% safe for use on toys.

It is a sizeable item, at 19 inches wide x 12 inches high. It is 1/2 inch thick.

The reversible version with both the capital letters and lowercase letters is $85 CAD. The one-sided version is $55.

Please note that because wood is a natural material with different grains, your board will most likely look different from the one pictured. We do our best to make each board similar but the beauty of nature is that it is wonderfully unique.

CLEANING

We recommend using only dry sensory materials with this board. The finish is resistant to mild liquid, but is not meant for intense dunking. Spot clean with a damp cloth and let air dry. Markers and crayons are not recommended.

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A note about wooden toys: Wood is a natural material and as such, has various unique markings. Variations in wood grain, color, knots, or texture are all natural occurrences in these hand-crafted wooden products. These unique variations and markings are proof of quality, not defects. Enjoy the markings that make your toy unique!

There may be a difference in colour between what you see on your screen and what you receive in real life. This is due to different monitors and displays, and while we wish there was just one universal monitor for everyone, that isn't the case.

If you have any concerns or problems with any of our products, please do not hesitate to contact us. We want you to be entirely satisfied with what you have received and will do everything possible to make it right.