Letters and numbers toys that make phonics and counting hands-on. Transparent letters, CVC word builders and bean bags help children recognise, build and practise early literacy and numeracy, for ages 3 and up.
Letters and numbers: your questions answered
Letters and numbers make more sense when children can hold them, sort them and build with them. These letters and numbers toys turn the alphabet and counting into hands-on play, from 3 years.
What are the best letters and numbers toys for a 3 year old?
Start with pieces little hands can pick up and name. The Transparent Letter Set has 26 capital letters from A to Z, and the Transparent Number Set has the numbers 0 to 9. Both are suitable from 3 years.
How can I help my child learn the alphabet through play?
Get them moving. Alphabet Bean Bags (26 bean bags, A to Z) turn throw and catch into letter practice, while the Transparent Letter Set is ideal for sorting letters and spelling first words at the table.
Do you have lower case letters as well as capitals?
Yes. Lower Case Letters has 52 translucent pieces in 4 colours, for ages 3 and up. Pair it with the Transparent Letter Set so children can match capital and lower case letters.
Which transparent letters and numbers work on a light panel?
The Transparent Letter Set, Lower Case Letters and Transparent Number Set are all translucent, so the colours glow on a light panel or light table and draw children in.
Which CVC Match and Spell set should I choose?
Both use colour-coded connecting wheels so children can match consonants and vowels to build consonant-vowel-consonant (CVC) words, and both are for ages 3 and up.
Busy Play® Match and Spell: 6 wheels and 54 activity cards in a compact, reusable cardboard box for home and travel
CVC Match and Spell: 24 wheels and 2 sets of 54 double-sided activity cards, for siblings, small groups and classrooms
How can children practise letter formation without a pencil?
With the GeoStix® Letter Construction Set, children snap sticks together to build each letter and feel how every line and curve fits. Its 200 pieces include 5 types of straight sticks and 4 curved arcs, so rounded letters like O and S are as easy to build as T and L, for ages 3 and up.
How do bean bags help with numbers and counting?
Number & Dot Bean Bags are numbered 1 to 10, with matching dots printed under each number, so children link the numeral to the amount as they throw and catch. Colour Bean Bags (8 bags with the colour name printed on each) add colour words to the game. Both are for ages 3 and up.