Mix up some alphabet soup and let kids spoon up learning during this fun and easy alphabet activity!

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Today we have a ton of water play activities to share with you, so grab a towel and join in the fun! First up, we are diving into ABC Soup, a playful way for kids to explore letters while splashing around. My kiddos loved it! We filled up our pirate boat water table, added some letters, and got started. To make it extra “soupy,” I sprinkled in some cornmeal leftover from our Edible Sand Sensory Play activity—our water really looked like a delicious broth!

Once the kids were happily stirring and fishing out letters, we moved on to 8 more awesome water play and pirate-themed activities that are sure to keep them entertained for hours. These activities are perfect for building fine motor skills, exploring early learning concepts, and sparking imaginative play. Be sure to check out all the water play activities below, for another fun water play idea that pairs perfectly with our pirate adventures!

Why Playing with Toy Letters are Good for Kids

Playing with letters in a hands-on way is a fantastic way for kids to build early literacy skills while having fun. When children manipulate letters—whether by fishing them out of water, tracing them, or moving them around—they strengthen fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination, both of which are essential for writing. Hands-on letter play also helps kids recognize shapes, associate letters with sounds, and develop memory and sequencing skills. By turning learning into a playful experience, children are more engaged and motivated, making it easier for them to retain the concepts and build a strong foundation for reading and writing.

If your little learners are loving hands-on letter play, there are plenty more ways to keep the fun going! Try our Free Printable Alphabet Flashcards to reinforce letter recognition, spin and learn with our Alphabet Phonics Spinners Printable Activity, or create a tactile learning experience with an Alphabet Sensory Bin. Each of these activities helps kids practice letters in an engaging, interactive way while building early literacy skills through play.

ABC Soup: Alphabet Activity for Preschoolers

Supplies:

Letters

Scoops, spoons, funnels, water play toys

Water 🙂

Letters that will be okay in water (I got ours at the Dollar Tree…I just love dollar store activities!)

Water table, tub, or large bucket

Bowl (optional)

Don’t forget water safety-never leave kids unattended! 

Directions:

1.  Fill container with water, add letters, give kiddos scoops and spoons, and let them catch letters.

I let the kids play and explore the activity without making a point to mention the letters. I was thrilled when Ms. Tiger naturally started naming the letters she knew, then asking the names of the letters she didn’t recognize. What a great stress free way to learn!

Mr. Tickles picked up letters using his hands and tried out all the water toys we had out helping to improve his fine motor skills.

I love it when we do learning activities that both of my kids can enjoy despite their different stages in life.

Everyone wants to hold the hose…when water is involved, my kiddos are always happy!

Dumping letters in his soup bowl, picking them out and putting them back in the boat, and doing it all over again.

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We love our new scissor handled scoops. They work perfect for water activities because they have holes that let the water drain out.

Ms. Tiger caught letters with her scoop and dropped them in her soup bowl.

ABC Soup…(Oops, it looks like 7 and 9 jumped in the fun)

Presenting Water Play & Pirates 

This list includes activities for learning, creativity, exploration, movement, and safety. Read through the list and click on the activities that catch your eye. (I would love to know which activities you pick!)

Pirate Slime Sensory Play by Where Imagination Grows

Pirates Gold Number Play by Kitchen Floor Crafts

Water Transportation by Not Just Preschool

Pool Safety  by Not Just Preschool

Underwater Glitter Sand Sensory Tray by In the Playroom

Make sure to visit the other hosts to see all the exciting features:

Book Activities by Left Brain Craft Brain

Eric Carle & Pirates by Tot Schooling

Learning Sensory For Preschoolers By One Time Through

Thank you to everyone who shared last week. I really appreciate each one of you for participating and I LOVE seeing your wonderful ideas!