A few letters or numbers can be enough for a shared activity. Choose one picture, give one short invitation and let the child decide whether to point, draw, count or watch. You do not need to begin at the start of an alphabet or work through every number in order.
These playful starting points use pictures from the separate ABC and 123 card sets. Begin with one letter or a small number of objects. Homemade letter and number pictures work too.
Look for one letter
The Letter A card features Countalot and asks, “Can you find the letter A?” You could place it beside a short word you have written on paper and look for the same shape. Your child might point, circle it on their own paper or ask you to do the first turn.
The Letter B card with Planda asks, “Where is the big letter B?” Try looking at that picture together before adding other letters. A child can choose which letter to look at next. There is no need to introduce a long row if two pictures already make a useful choice.
Explore a shape with a movement
The Letter C card with Sippy asks, “Can you follow the curve of C?” An adult could draw a large C on a separate sheet and trace the curve with a finger. Invite your child to try the movement in the air, on their own paper or by watching.
Make your paper drawing larger if you want a bigger movement, or let your child lead the curve while you follow. You can take turns choosing where the line begins and finishes.
Choose a small counting picture
The 123 set includes Number 0 with Countalot, asking, “Can you find the empty basket?” Number 1 with Splishfin asks, “Can you find one paper boat?” Number 2 with Countalot asks, “Can you count two red apples?”
You can start with the empty-basket picture, then place one or two large paper shapes on a table. Take turns arranging and counting them. When a shape moves away, notice what is left. Use objects or drawings that fit your family’s activity space; you do not need to recreate every illustrated item.
Number 3 with Breatho asks, “Can you find three butterflies?” Your child can point to the picture or make three marks on paper. If the marks become a different drawing, you can follow that interest and come back to the number another time.
Finish with a choice
- Choose a letter picture or a number picture.
- Try one turn of looking, drawing, moving or counting.
- Offer the same picture, another picture or finished.
- Put the selected card where you can find it next time, if wanted.
ABC has 26 cards. The currently listed 123 set has 31 cards covering 0–30. They are separate purchases; each includes its own printable files and chosen-set app access. Explore the card sets and choose ABC or 123 according to the pictures you want. There is no need to buy both to begin a small shared activity.