I love up-cycling items to use in learning activities. It’s cheap, easy and always in stock at my house. In this simple letter recognition activity, I used something you definitely have at home: toilet paper rolls to create an ABC tunnel.

Here’s what you’ll need to get started:

Supplies:

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• Toilet paper or paper towel rolls (about 4-6 toilet paper rolls or 2-3 paper towel rolls)
• Scissors
• Sharpie Marker

Set up:

Flatten the toilet paper roll slightly and cut it into 1 to 2 inch rings. Cut each ring along one folded side so that it can stand up like an arch. Write the letters on both side of the toilet paper arch, capital letters on one side and lower case letters on the other side.

I had my toddler/preschooler, start by singing the ABC song. Then I started by finding the letter Aa and placed it in front of her.  I then asked her what was the next letter and to place it beside the Aa.

BUILDING A TUNNEL

Make sure you don’t forget to tell your toddler what you are trying to build! A tunnel! For a little car? Whatever you like!

Placing the toilet paper tunnel arches down carefully so that they don’t fall over is tricky but great for helping to develop hand eye coordination.

SINGING

We continued to sing the ABC song through out this activity, it helped my toddler to remember which letter came next.