One of the first things most kids learn is how to spell and then write their name. Parents can introduce these fun and free name crafts and activities at home, or teachers can use them in the classroom. Either way, kids are going to love them!
1. Say it, make it, write it
This concept is popular for helping kids learn letters and words, including names. The “make it” section opens up all sorts of creative opportunities!
Learn more: You Clever Monkey
2. Make a name kit
This is so cool! Give each child their own name kit filled with magnetic letters, a sentence strip puzzle, and more. This is a neat way to allow them to practice on their own.
Learn more: Fun-a-Day
3. Assemble name picture puzzles
This is one of our absolute favorite name crafts, and it’s perfect for back-to-school. Help kids learn the names of everyone in their class (and how to spell them) with a set of classroom name puzzles.
Learn more: Make, Take, and Teach
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4. Cover names with dot stickers
Combine hand-eye coordination practice with learning to spell names when you use dot stickers. Kids always get such a kick out of this.
Learn more: Busy Toddler
5. Park toy cars in a name garage
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Label “parking spots” with the letters of your child’s name. Then, as they drive each car into a spot, they say the letter and practice spelling!
Learn more: Growing Book By Book
6. Make colorful rainbow name crafts
These vivid rainbow name crafts would look fantastic on your classroom windows, don’t you think? And they’re so easy to make!
Learn more: Collaborating in Kinder
7. Go on a name hunt
Active learners will really enjoy this name activity. Hide letters on sticky notes around the room, and have them hunt for the ones that make up their name. (Find more awesome ways to use sticky notes in the classroom here.)
Learn more: School Time Snippets
8. Piece out names with paper bits
These colorful name crafts give little ones fine motor skills practice as they glue small paper pieces to make up the letters of their name.
Learn more: Time 4 Kindergarten
9. Hang names from a mini clothesline
This looks like so much fun! Use clothespins to clip letters to a clothesline to spell names and other words.
Learn more: Pre-K Pages
10. Have a bowl of alphabet soup
Use a spoon to dig the letters of your name out of a bowl of “alphabet soup.” Younger kids can match letters as written on spoons, while older kids can simply seek and find.
Learn more: Play Teach Repeat
11. Drive down name roads
Toy car lovers will adore zooming their vehicles along a road that spell their name! Try this with railroad tracks and toy trains too.
Learn more: Buggy and Buddy
12. Scoop up ice cream names
Grab the free printable cones and scoops and have kids cut them out. Then use them to stack up some totally sweet ice cream name crafts!
Learn more: Parenting Chaos
13. Create paint stick name crafts
Glue magnetic strips to paint sticks and attach a child’s picture to the top. Then use alphabet magnets to spell their name. Such a smart tool!
Learn more: Simply Kinder
14. Scratch and sniff your name
All you need is glue and Jello powder to make these scratch-and-sniff name crafts. Tip: Pair this with activities for learning the five senses!
Learn more: Fun-A-Day
15. Knock over name buckets
Label small buckets with name letters, then head outside to see if you can knock them down with a spray from the hose! No hose? Knock them down with tennis balls instead, or try to toss the balls into the buckets.
Learn more: Inspiration Laboratories
16. Turn names into crystals
Kids are mesmerized by crystal experiments, and it’s easy to see why. Have them twist pipe cleaners into the letters of their name, then visit the link below to learn how to turn them into crystals.
Learn more: Playdough to Plato
17. Spell names with Play-Doh
Play-Doh is endlessly fun, but there are a lot of ways to learn with it too. For instance, shape it into the letters of your name!
Learn more: Teach Me Mommy
18. Play a game of name hockey
Let kids shoot and score using paper plate hockey pucks labeled with the letters of their name. Everybody wins!
Learn more: How Wee Learn
19. Pop the letters of your name
Who doesn’t love to get their hands on some bubble wrap and pop away? Have kids trace the letters of their name as they pop.
Learn more: Coffee Cups and Crayons
20. Stamp out names
Letter stamps give kids a little hand-eye coordination practice while they spell out their name and other words.
Learn more: Pre-K Pages
21. Put together flower name crafts
Build cheerful flowers with letter petals with these free printable name crafts. They’ll look terrific lining your classroom wall!
Learn more: A Dab of Glue Will Do
22. Outline rainbow names
This is a fun way to have kids make name tags for the first few days of school while everyone is still getting to know each other.
Learn more: The Happy Teacher
23. Clip names with clothespins
Attach wood letters to clothespins, and you’ve got an easy set of spelling manipulatives! Have them clip their name or other words to a large wood craft stick.
Learn more: School Time Snippets
24. Wear name bracelets
Kids will love making and wearing these easy name crafts! They can personalize them with other beads you have on hand too.
Learn more: Roylco
25. Graph the number of letters in each name
Introduce the idea of graphing with this name activity. Kids count the number of letters in their name and see who has the most and the least.
Learn more: One Sharp Bunch
They’ve learned their name, so what comes next? Try these 15 Pre-Writing Activities for Preschoolers.
Plus, The Best Writing Apps for the Classroom and At Home.