Letter X

I don’t know about you, but reaching the letter X makes me see the light at the end of the tunnel! It feels like the alphabet journey is very soon coming to an end. So let’s make the best of it. It is important to try to ease new letters into your preschooler’s curriculum so as not to overwhelm them with new information. First, if you’re following the “Letter of the Week” board strategy, make sure to change the letter on the board from the letter W to the letter X. You can also help introduce the letter to your child by watching this Kids Academy Letter X video which demonstrates the name, shape, and sound of the letter X. After the letter is gently introduced, you can start the new week with some fun letter X activities to help your child retain all the information they've learnt.

Activities

Finding words that start with the letter X is tricky, so it might be helpful to also use some words that end with X to complete some of the activities in this list.

• Letter X Coloring Sheet: To start off with the letter X, you can offer your child this Kids Academy coloring worksheet to get them acquainted with how the letter looks and sounds. It will help them utilize their creativity by coloring the letter X in the first exercise as they see fit, as well as the hat and house in the second exercise.
  
  
• Letter X Tracing Page: You can also try this tracing worksheet from the Kids Academy website to encourage the development of your preschooler’s pre-writing skills. Tracing the letter X in both its uppercase and lowercase forms is a great way for learning this letter all the while training your child’s motor skills that are associated with writing.
  
  
• X is for Xylophone: Print out a big solid letter X, then cut rainbow color construction paper into descending length strips (red being longest, violet the shortest), and have your child glue them to the X to make the shape of a Xylophone. You can also use a xylophone toy to make a music session with your child to learn more about how the xylophone operates.
  
  
• Fox in a Box: Cut a piece of cardboard into the shape of an unfolded cube. On the bottom face of the unfolded cube, have your child glue the two googly eyes, two orange ears, and make some whiskers using pipe cleaners to make the face of a fox. Then, guide them to fold the cardboard to make the shape of the box, and voila! A fox in a box. This activity helps the child use the letter X, thus learning the sound it makes. It also introduces rhyming when using the words fox/box.
  
  
• X Pairs: Using pairs of objects such as chopsticks, spoons, popsicle sticks, etc., help your child make the letter X by crossing the pair of objects with each other. This activity will help your child retain the shape of the letter. Another tool they will always have on them to help them remember the shape of the letter X are their fingers. Teach your child how to make the letter X using their fingers and tell them if you ever forget the shape of this letter, just remember to cross your fingers.

These activities are a great way to teach your child the letter X with minimal effort but great results. Visit the Kids Academy website to find more similar materials on the rest of the alphabet.