Preschool Letter Memory Game

This preschool letter memory game is a playful and engaging way to help your preschooler master the ABCs while having fun. This game is a preschool classic for a reason. Let the memory fun begin!

Table of Contents:

1. We LOVE this preschool letter memory game
2. Why this preschool letter memory game works so well
3. Materials
4. How to play this preschool letter memory game
5. Try some of these fun variations
6. This preschool letter memory game is fun throughout the day
7. Benefits of the preschool letter memory game
8. Try some of these other fun preschool letter games
9. Frequently Asked Questions

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We LOVE this preschool letter memory game

Looking for a way to turn letter practice into a game?

This preschool letter memory game is a classic and you don’t need anything fancy to get started.

Kids love this game and don’t even realize just how much they are learning while playing.

Why this preschool letter memory game works so well

This game is so easy to level up or down, making it perfect for preschoolers at various levels of letter knowledge.

• Is your preschooler just learning their letters? This game is perfect!

• Is your preschooler reading words? This game is perfect!

Because it works across a spectrum of letter knowledge skills, it’s even a fabulous game to play in a class setting with multiple skill levels or as a 1:1 activity.

This game combines visual memory and problem-solving skills with preschool literacy in a fun, interactive way.

Materials

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You’ll need just a few things to get started:

• Magnetic letters – or any letter toys you have on hand
• A baking sheet

Tip: We used magnetic letters and a baking sheet, but you can still play the game with different supplies. Letter puzzle pieces, letter beads, letter flashcards, and the like all work perfectly.

How to play this preschool letter memory game

This game is simple yet packed with learning. Here’s how it works:

Start by placing three magnetic letters on a baking sheet in front of your preschooler.

They’ll look at the letters for a few seconds to remember them, naming them out loud while memorizing.

Then, invite your child to close their eyes while you take one letter away and hide it behind your back.

When they open their eyes, they’ll guess which letter is missing.

Repeat the process, changing out the letters as you go.

💡 Teacher Tip: Use your letters for a fun alphabet sensory bin for a quick activity extension.

Try some of these fun variations

Ready to take this game up a notch? Here are 10 variations to keep your little one guessing:

• Increase the number of letters on the sheet (ex: instead of 3, try 5)
• Use a mix of uppercase and lowercase letters
• Add a timer to race against the clock
• Use numbers instead of letters for a twist.
• Use a themed set of letters (think Halloween or animals)
• Let THEM remove the letter while you guess which one is missing.
• Incorporate letter sounds by having them say the missing letter sound.

This preschool letter memory game is fun throughout the day

This memory game is great for quiet mornings, after nap time, in small groups, and even makes for a fun game while dining out at restaurants.

Once, I was with friends whose preschooler was rather bored at the restaurant table, so I ripped one of the paper kids’ menus into 26 pieces, wrote the letters with crayons, and we had an entertaining game to play.

Anytime you want to sneak in a little learning without pulling out worksheets or flashcards, this game is the perfect solution.

Benefits of the preschool letter memory game

• Boost preschool letter recognition and visual memory
• Strengthen focus and attention.
• Encourage friendly competition if playing with others
• Provide hands-on, active learning

Try some of these other fun preschool letter games

1. Alphabet Treasure Hunt

Hide magnetic letters or letter flashcards around the house or yard. Give your preschooler a list of letters to “find,” and as they discover each one, they can match it to the list. You can also turn it into a sound hunt—”Find the letter that makes the sound ‘mmm.'”

2. Letter Hopscotch

Draw hopscotch squares on the sidewalk or use painter’s tape inside to create a grid. Instead of numbers, write letters in each square. As your preschooler hops, they say the letter out loud. To mix things up, call out a letter, and have them hop to that specific one.

4. Alphabet Freeze Dance

Play some fun music and let your preschooler dance around. When the music stops, hold up a letter flashcard or call out a letter. Your preschooler has to “freeze” and say the letter or make its sound. It’s a great way to add a little movement into letter recognition practice!

5. Letter Sound Match

Write the letters of the alphabet on sticky notes and place them randomly around the room. Say a letter sound and have your preschooler run to the matching letter as quickly as possible. You can also switch it up by showing them an object, like a toy car, and having them run to the letter that matches the first sound of the object’s name.

6. Uppercase and Lowercase Match-Up

Create pairs of uppercase and lowercase letters using flashcards or simply write them on pieces of paper. Spread the cards around the room and have your preschooler match the uppercase and lowercase versions of each letter. To add more fun, hide the lowercase letters for them to find.

8. Alphabet Sensory Bin

Fill a bin with rice, sand, or small pasta, and hide magnetic letters or foam letters inside. Have your preschooler dig through the sensory material to find the letters, and as they pull them out, they identify them and place them in alphabetical order.

Hope you have a blast playing this fun preschool letter memory game with your little one!

Frequently Asked Questions