Shaving Cream Spelling

Spelling is a very important skill for children to learn in their young age. When they are able to spell their own name, it gives them a sense of pride and accomplishment. A fun way to work on this skill is to use shaving cream as a way for them to practice their spelling. Simply get some shaving cream, spray and spread it on a flat surface, and then allow the children to work on their letters. As a parent/provider, you can demonstrate a letter/word for them on paper, in your own shaving cream, on a white board, or with a letter shaped object. The children can look at yours for reference and then work on their own.

Age-appropriate Adaptations:

• Two-year-olds—Your child may need help getting the shaving cream spread out on a flat surface. Work on letter recognition and repetition. You can represent the first letter of their name and have them practice the movements of that letter. Practice and repetition can form the skill of writing.
• Three-year-olds—Work on all letters of their name. Having a representation for them to look at and refer back to is important. If they see “MOM” spelled out they can look at that and try to mimic the letters. Practice and repetition is important.
• Four-/Five-year-olds—Encourage your child to spell their first name to the best of their ability. If they need help, provide them with a representation done by you for reference. Working on perfecting a certain letter in their name may be important. Perhaps the lower case “d” in David looks like a “b”. If they have perfected their first name, move on to their last name and allow them to try and spell/write that. Practice and repetition is important.

Skills Supported: language, vocabulary, fine motor and sensory exploration