# Alphabet Memory Match Game
> Hide pairs of letters under cups and take turns lifting one cup at a time to find the matching letter. Once kids get the hang of it, switch to matching upper case letters with lower case letters.
- URL: https://www.funlittles.com/alphabet-games-for-kids-memory-match/
- Ages: 3–5 yrs · Difficulty: easy · Mess: low
- Time: prep 5 min, activity 15 min
- Works for: one-on-one, small group, whole class · one batch serves about 1 kids
- Skills: letter-recognition, upper-lower-case-matching, memory, visual-discrimination

## Materials (one batch)
- Magnetic letters
- Lower case letters (optional)
- Paper or plastic cups (household)
- 1 sheet Bright sheet of paper

## Substitutions
- Instead of letters: Wooden letters (Any letters you have lying around work.)
- Instead of letters: Foam magnets
- Instead of letters: Foam letters
- Instead of letters: Foam letter stickers
- Instead of letters: Numbers (The game works with some form of letters or numbers.)
- Instead of letters: Leap letters (A reader working on upper and lower case planned to use hers.)

## Safety
- Magnetic and foam letters are small parts and a choking hazard. Supervise closely with toddlers and children who still mouth toys.
- Check magnetic letters for loose or exposed magnets before play. Swallowed magnets are dangerous, so remove any damaged letters.

## Steps
1. Pick out the letters your child is still not sure of and gather 2 of each.
2. Arrange the letters on a bright sheet of paper.
3. Look at all the letters, then cover each one with a cup while calling out the letter.
4. Pick up one cup and check out the letter hiding under it.
5. Cover the letter again.
6. Find the matching letter by opening one cup at a time.
7. After a couple of rounds, add lower case letters and match each upper case letter to its lower case letter.

## Tips
- Choose the letters your child is still unsure of. The game then practices exactly what they need.
- Use cups that are larger than your letters.
- Calling out each letter while covering it with a cup is part of the fun and the learning.
- Simple isn't it? Something all parents can do NOW, with things around the house.
- She really enjoyed finding the hiding letters and was very excited when she matched the letters.
- Kids who love guess-what's-under-the-cup games are likely to enjoy this one. (from readers)

## The original post by TurkeyMom (2013)

My 3 year old is really after her 5 year old sister who is enjoying reading a lot! She is desperately trying to keep up with her, trying to write her name, engage in [**number recognition activities**](https://www.funlittles.com/math-activity-play-dough-fingers-for-toddlers/) and recently has been very excited about **[pre writing activities](https://www.funlittles.com/sensory-activities-for-kids-rainbow-writing/).** That's a younger sibling for you! To encourage her natural curiosity in a **playful** way we did this simple alphabet activity with things around the house. This memory match game is something you probably are already doing, but this is our first time with my younger one. **Materials** I did not include a materials list because this alphabet activity can truly be just two things - some form of letters/numbers and some sort of container that you can use to cover the letters or numbers. But here is what we did - I gathered all our **[magnetic letters](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0002SC7CE/?tag=blmemo-20)**. You can easily use your **[wooden letters](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0002SC7CE/?tag=blmemo-20), [foam magnets](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001ECI9EM/?tag=blmemo-20), [foam letters](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001AZ09RS/?tag=blmemo-20), [foam stickers](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004MR1S3U/?tag=blmemo-20)** or any letters you have lying around. Just find cups which are larger than the letters you use. Along with a few paper or plastic cups you are ready for the game. I picked out those letters she is still not sure of and gathered 2 of each and arranged them on a bright sheet of paper.  She took a look at all the letters and covered them all up with the cups while calling out the letters.  Then it was time to play the alphabet game. She picks up one cup at a time and checks out the hiding letter under it. Covers the letter again and finds the matching letter by opening one cup at a time.



She really enjoyed finding the hiding letters and was very excited when she matched the letters. After a couple of rounds, I change the alphabet game a bit and added lower case letters to the mix. We played the same game except this time we memory matched the upper case letters to the lower case letters.  Simple isn't it? Something all parents can do NOW! 

Here are some more alphabet activities you can do with a little planning

[**Alphabet City**](https://www.funlittles.com/alphabet-activities-alphabet-city/)

[](https://www.funlittles.com/alphabet-activities-alphabet-city/)

Have licorice lying around AND your kids don't eat them ? use it for in an engaging [**alphabet activity**](https://www.funlittles.com/fine-motor-activities-learning-licorice/)

[](https://www.funlittles.com/fine-motor-activities-learning-licorice/)

Have corn meal? Make this easy sensory bin for a fun [alphabet activity](https://www.funlittles.com/sensory-activities-for-kids/) 

The same cornmeal can be used this way too. Leaf picking- [**swap letters for numbers.**](https://www.funlittles.com/fall-themed-math-activities-for-kids/)

[](ww.blogmemom.com/fall-themed-math-activities-for-kids/)