Alphabet Game – Flash Cards

This is a great game to play with small children to help them learn the alphabet but children (and adults) of all ages will enjoy this fast pace game.

All you need is someone to play this game with and ABC flash cards. You can buy them or make your own.

Take your ABC flash cards and shuffle them. Determine how you want to play. You can go from oldest to youngest or youngest to oldest. You can play alphabetically. It’s up to you.

You can play this game one of two ways.

1. Have some hold up a card drawn from the flash cards. The first person must call out a food that starts with that letter (it may be easier to use names for smaller children). As soon as they say the food, they draw a card and hold it up for the next person. If someone cannot come up with a food (name), they are out of the game. Continue until only one person remains. Try to keep the game moving fast for older children.

2. Deal five of the cards to each person. Place the extra cards on a pile. Without looking at the cards, each person should hold their cards face down. When it is their turn, they flip the top card in their hand over and must say a food (name) that starts with that letter. If they cannot come up with a food (name), they can draw a card from the extra pile. If they still cannot come up with a food (name), they are out of the game. Continue until only one person remains. Try to keep the game moving fast for older children.

TIPS AND VARIATIONS:

* To make the Flash Cards, use poster board. Cut them into 2X4 rectangles. You will need 26 cards. With a marker, Write one letter of the alphabet on each card until all 26 letters have their own card. If you have a way to laminate them, they will last longer.

* Many times, we play this game with the names. We first go through and have to come up with boy names then we go through trying to only use girl names.

* To mix things up, try throwing different categories into the game. Use sports terms, T.V. shows, Movies, Famous people, businesses or any subject with a variety of answers. Keep in mind that Q, X and Z are not easy to find so with smaller children, you can use words like “extra” for “X”. The object is to make the alphabet fun to learn so find a way to work around the harder letters or give a bonus to anyone coming up with an unusual answer.