Write Your Name in Sticks

Whether your child finds a stick and scratches their name in the mud or grabs a bundle of materials and builds the alphabet, they’re doing much more than just playing. These hands-on experiences naturally integrate early literacy practice with their fine motor development and problem-solving capacity. Forming letters through manipulation strengthens the small muscles in the hands and fingers, supports hand-eye coordination, and helps children internalize letter shapes in a way that worksheets alone cannot. When literacy is embedded in play, learning is meaningful, memorable, and engaging.

At the same time, open-ended activities encourage children to experiment, plan, and adapt. Deciding how to shape a letter, which materials to use, or how to fix something that didn’t work the first time builds cognitive flexibility and confidence. These moments of exploration lay a strong foundation for reading and writing by connecting language to real-world experiences, while also nurturing independence, creativity, and a lifelong curiosity about learning.

Having fun with this activity? Try these ideas:

• Fasten sticks together using string, pipe cleaners, or grass to craft letters that stay together.

• Combine water and mud at different ratios to experiment with. Is it easier to scratch your name in dry dirt or wet mud?

• Make the whole alphabet using nature!

We’d love to see what you’re up to this Spring Break. Tag us @mountain_sprouts or #MSCCSpringBreakChallenge to share photos with us on social media.