39 Multisensory Spelling Activities You Can Do At Home

Are you looking for fun and effective ways to help your child with spelling at home? You are in the right place! I’ve collected all the multisensory spelling activities I could find for you to access in one place.

Multisensory Spelling Activities for All Ages

These multisensory activities lay the groundwork for solid spelling skills by including different learning styles.

#1 Messy Finger Writing

How many times have you found your child playing in their food? Whether the messiness makes it fun or something else, they will most likely love this activity!

This one is super easy to do without having to find the supplies. Give your child a sheet pan of pudding and their spelling list, and have them write each word with their finger.

Depending on what you have available, you can substitute the pudding for whipped topping, shaving cream, or finger paint.

This activity pairs well with practicing spelling patterns and sight words, helping solidify muscle memory with each finger stroke.

#2 Rainbow Writing

Turn spelling into an art project by writing the same word multiple times using different colors. Each repetition strengthens memory, while coloring enhances creativity.

Grab a piece of paper and crayons, colored pencils, or markers. Encourage your child to write their spelling list:

Want One-On-One Expert Help?!

CHECK THIS OUT!

Find A Tutor TODAY!

In one color, then trace over it with another color.
In each color they have available.
By writing each letter one specific color.

This is a fun way to reinforce individual words and letter sounds while letting them be creative.

#3 Clay or Playdough Letters

Molding letters with playdough is a terrific way to make spelling tactile and fun. Have your child roll out the dough and shape it into letters to create words.

This activity works on their fine motor skills while reinforcing phoneme awareness as kids manipulate the dough to form letters.

#4 Magnetic Letter Spelling

Magnetic letters are a staple in multisensory spelling lessons. Spread these letters on the fridge or a magnetic board and encourage your child to form words from their spelling list.

You can boost phonological awareness and work on your child’s spelling list or choose high frequency words.

#5 Air Spelling

Encourage your child to use air writing to spell out words by making big, exaggerated movements with their arms.

Air spelling allows children to connect movement with learning, which is especially beneficial for kinesthetic learners. It enhances memory by activating both the muscles and the brain.

#6 Bead Spelling

Give your child a word card and beads with letters on them. Have them spell out words with the beads.

#7 Back Tracing

Have your child trace letters on your back. This activity fosters sensory connection through touch, forming a unique memory anchor. Chant the sounds of the letters as you feel each letter being traced.

#8 Letter Tiles

Letter tiles are perfect for independent work, allowing children to practice their spelling words.

You can purchase letter tiles on Amazon or print them out at home. Some letter tile sets will even include blends to practice.

#9 Bubble Wrap Pop Spelling

Who doesn’t love popping bubble wrap? All you will need is bubble wrap and a marker.

Have your child write spelling words on the bubble wrap, one letter per bubble. Then, they pop each bubble as they spell each word aloud.

#10 Magazine Letter Collage:

Provide your child with old magazines or newspapers and have them hunt for letters to cut out, forming their spelling words.

Once they have collected the necessary letters, have them arrange and glue them onto a sheet of paper.

#11 Sidewalk Spelling Game:

Using chalk, create a large-scale alphabet grid on your sidewalk or driveway, assigning each letter to a square.

Give your child a list of spelling words to practice. For each word, they must throw a bean bag onto the corresponding letter and hop from letter to letter to spell the word correctly.

#12 Spelling Horse:

Use a basketball and hoop to turn spelling practice into a fun game of horse. Each player takes turns shooting hoops to earn one letter at a time of their spelling word.

The first to correctly spell their word wins, and a new round begins for the next word.

#13 DIY Spelling Word Search:

Design a personalized word search puzzle using your child’s spelling lists. Include correct spellings and a few intentional misspellings to add complexity.

Here’s a word search generator to try.

Have your child find each word in the puzzle and discuss why some versions are incorrect. This activity reinforces spelling accuracy.

#14 Illustrative Spelling:

Encourage your child to draw pictures that represent each of their spelling words. After completing the illustrations, have them label each drawing with the correct spelling word.

This visual approach connects imagery with vocabulary, aiding memory retention and making spelling practice more fun.

#15 Role-Reversal Spelling Test:

Let your child step into the role of the teacher by conducting a spelling test for you (or another family member).

Allow them to check your work, identifying and correcting any misspelled words. This reversal of roles builds confidence, reinforces their learning, and adds a humorous twist to a typical test format.

#16 Spelling Memory Match:

Create a memory game using pairs of cards for each spelling word. Shuffle them and lay them face down. Your child must flip over two cards at a time to find matching pairs. For a variation, instead of matching the words, match the words with a card that has a picture that relates to the words.

#17 Add-On Spelling Challenge:

Have a verbal spelling game where one person starts with the first letter of a word, and the next person repeats it, adding the following letter.

Continue back and forth until the entire word is spelled. For example, for the word cat, you would say “c,” your child would say “c, a,” and then you would say “c, a,t.”

This back-and-forth format encourages concentration and helps develop auditory memory skills.

#18 Word-Based Board Games:

Incorporate board games into spelling practice. Instead of using these games for specific spelling lists, use them to teach or reinforce skills such as:

Spelling patterns
Spelling rules
Phonological awareness
CVC words

This makes learning fun and competitive, capitalizing on traditional board game excitement to reinforce spelling skills.

Some games to try:

Scrabble
Bananagrams
Word Bits
Spelligator
SpellChecked Card Game
Scrabble Slam

Check out these games an more in this Amazon collection of Spelling Games for Kids, Teens, and the Whole Family.

#19 Spelling Word Shapes:

Have your child draw a shape, such as a star or a cloud, and place a piece of tracing paper over it. Instruct them to write their spelling words along the outline of the shape, filling it completely.

#20 Spelling Word Bingo:

Create bingo cards with spelling words, and have your child play bingo by listening to you call out words. They can mark off the words as they’re spelled correctly.

This activity builds listening skills and adds an element of chance to spelling practice.

#21 Spelling Headbands:

Involve the whole family in a guessing game where everyone wears a card with a spelling word on their forehead. Players ask yes/no questions to figure out the word on their card. Once they guess the word correctly, start over with a new card. The winner is who gets the most cards.

#22 Magic Spelling Squares:

Draw squares on paper and have your child use a white crayon to write spelling words in each one.

They then color over the squares with different colored markers to reveal the words as if by magic.

#23 Dice Spelling Tasks:

Assign each number on a six-sided die a different spelling task, such as writing the word:

Backwards
In all capital letters
With your non-dominant hand
In rainbow colors (each letter a different color)
In your favorite color
Designated amount of times (such as 3 or 7 times)
With your eyes closed
Upside down

Have your child roll the die and complete the task for each spelling word.

#24 Tic Tac Toe Spelling:

Instead of traditional X’s and O’s, each player uses current spelling words to play tic tac toe. The first to spell three words in a row wins.

#25 Phone Spelling:

Have your child write their spelling words and then convert each letter to a corresponding number using a phone keypad. Once each word is written in number form, they can add up the total and compare it with others.

#26 Emoji Code Creation:

Develop an emoji code where each letter corresponds to a specific emoji. Your child writes their spelling words using these emoji representations.

#27 Candy Spelling:

Form each spelling word using candies like M&Ms or Skittles and then write them alongside each other on paper. After completing the activity, your child can enjoy a treat.

#28 Spelling Word Paper Chain:

Cut out construction paper strips and write one letter of the alphabet on each strip. Make enough strips to spell out each spelling word. Mix them up. Encourage your child to form and connect each letter into a word chain.

#29 Spelling Hangman:

Use the hangman game to practice spelling words. Guess letters to discover the words. When you guess wrong, you draw the figure hanging from the noose. The goal is to guess the word before drawing the completed figure.

#30 Spelling Text:

Allow your child to text their spelling words to a family member or friend using a phone. Double-check that each word was spelled correctly and have them fix any mistakes before sending.

#31 Hot Potato Spelling:

Pass an object back and forth, with each person giving a letter of a spelling word before passing it on. See how many words can be spelled before time runs out.

#32 Blind Spelling:

Challenge your child to write spelling words with their eyes closed or using their non-dominant hand. This encourages focus and awareness of letter formation in a fun way.

#33 Spelling Pyramid:

Have your child build a pyramid with their spelling words, starting with the first letter at the top and adding one letter per line until the word is complete. Themes, like witches or Santa hats, can add variations for different occasions.

#34 Jump Rope Spelling

Equip your child with a jump rope and a list of spelling words. As they jump, they spell each word aloud, such as “A“ for the first jump of “apple,“ followed by “P“ for the next, and so on, until the word is complete.

#35 Phonic Frames

Phonics Frames, or Elkonin boxes, provide a visual and tactile method for understanding spelling. Using boxes drawn on paper, guide your student to say each new word aloud and then segment it into its individual sounds, placing a letter tile or writing each corresponding letter in the boxes. This activity enhances phoneme awareness by helping students connect letter sounds in a structured format.

#36 Stamp Spelling

Students can imprint their spelling words onto the paper with rubber alphabet stamps, ink pads, and paper. Guide them to use the stamps for each letter, creating an impression of the word on the page.

To reinforce learning, encourage them to outline the stamped words with a different color.

#37 Touch Typing

Touch typing is a needed skill in today’s digital world. It enhances spelling proficiency and typing speed. Encourage students to type out their spelling lists using a computer or digital device.

If your child struggles with handwriting, typing is a great way to practice spelling words.

#38 Spelling Stories

Writing stories can turn spelling practice into a creative narrative exercise. Using a spelling list, have your child write a story that incorporates each word.

Illustrate scenes or highlight spelling words with drawings to enhance the story visually.

Encourage your child to read their story aloud, focusing on and emphasizing the spelling words to reinforce their learning.

#39 Sticky Note Spelling

Using sticky notes and a marker, write each letter of a spelling word on separate notes. Have your child arrange these notes in the correct order on a wall or table to spell out the word.

Encourage them to engage further by using the notes to create sentences or categories, enhancing their organizational and spelling skills.

By incorporating these multisensory spelling strategies, your child will look forward to spelling practice. These approaches cater to various learning styles, ensuring every student can find a path to spelling success.

What is Multisensory Spelling?

Multisensory spelling is a unique approach that engages multiple senses to boost children’s learning retention and spelling proficiency. By tapping into a variety of learning styles, multisensory spelling strategies cater to different preferences, whether your child learns best by seeing, hearing, touching, or doing.

Benefits of a Multisensory Approach to Spelling

Our senses are powerful learning tools, and combining them can make a big difference in understanding and remembering new information.

By combining visual, auditory, tactile, and kinesthetic experiences, you ensure spelling isn’t just an isolated activity but an immersive experience that enhances all language learning.

Let’s explore the benefits these activities bring to the table.

– Enhances Memory Retention

Engaging multiple senses simultaneously strengthens memory retention. When kids see, hear, move, and touch while learning, they create stronger and more lasting memories. Ever notice how a catchy song from a commercial sticks with you? That’s multisensory learning at its best!

– Supports Various Learning Styles

Every child is unique, and so is their learning style. Some kids learn best by seeing, others by doing. Multisensory spelling lessons cater to these differences, providing each child the chance to succeed.

Whether your child is a visual learner who loves drawing word pictures or prefers physical activities like air writing, multisensory approaches have something for everyone.

– Builds Phonological Awareness

Understanding the sounds letters make, also known as phonological awareness, is crucial for spelling success. Multisensory methods help children connect sounds with written forms, bridging the gap between spoken and written language.

– Enhances Focus

Multisensory spelling strategies keep children engaged and focused. Kids are naturally active, and just sitting with a spelling list might bore them. But add in some tactile activities like shaving cream writing or finger painting, and you’ve got an instant engagement booster. Here are more ideas to keep kids focused.

– Boosts Confidence

The multisensory approach offers personalized experiences, which means children can progress at their own pace. As they master high-frequency words through multisensory activities, their confidence soars.

Confidence in spelling also contributes to better writing skills, giving them the courage to express themselves without fear of stumbling over words.

– Develops Muscle Memory

When kids trace words in sand or use magnetic letters, they activate muscle memory. This practice is a step towards independent work with written language.

It’s similar to how we remember how to ride a bike, even after years. The repeated physical motion aids in learning, making spelling almost second nature.

Check out these additional games and activities for kids to improve their memory.

– Encourages Critical Thinking

When using a multisensory approach to spelling, children are encouraged to think critically and solve problems. Identifying spelling patterns and applying spelling rules during activities like tic-tac-toe boards or task cards enhances critical thinking skills.

By incorporating these activities, parents can provide a holistic learning experience that makes acquiring spelling skills a fun and rewarding journey for their children.

Learning Disabilities that Affect Spelling

Many kids master spelling with practice. However, for some children, learning to spell can be a big challenge due to learning disabilities. These disabilities can make even the simplest words feel challenging.

But by understanding these difficulties, you can better support your child. Here are a few learning disabilities that directly or indirectly affect spelling.

Click on each one to learn more:

Recognizing and addressing these learning challenges with sensory spelling activities gives your child the tools to be successful.

Encouragement for Parents

Embracing a multisensory approach to spelling at home is not just about learning spelling patterns or memorizing individual words. It’s about nurturing a child’s curiosity and developing a love for learning.

– Empowering Your Child’s Learning Style

Every child is unique, and their learning styles and preferences can vary significantly. Here’s where you come in. Observe and identify what resonates best with your child. Do they enjoy writing in shaving cream on the countertop, or maybe they find joy in arranging magnetic letters on the fridge?

By incorporating activities tailored to their interests, you’re not just teaching them spelling rules—you’re demonstrating that learning can be fun and accessible.

– Building Muscle Memory and Confidence

Did you know that kinesthetic learning modalities can turn spelling into a full-body experience? Activities such as jumping to spell sight words or air writing help build muscle memory, which solidifies spelling skills.

Keep in mind that each activity aims to improve skills and boost confidence. Successfully spelling words enhances a child’s self-esteem and willingness to challenge themselves with more complex tasks.

– Creating a Multisensory Learning Environment

Create an environment where learning can happen naturally and effectively. Designate a special study space for learning activities where children can explore freely without fear of making mistakes. Use diverse and fun tools like letter tiles, phonogram cards, and even tic-tac-toe boards for phonics activities.

This flexibility allows you to adapt the learning experience to fit your child’s evolving needs and interests.

– Encourage Consistent Practice

Consistency is the key to success in all learning. Incorporate short, regular practice sessions into daily routines. It could be as simple as picking a few words from their spelling lists while cooking dinner or encouraging them to doodle new words on a piece of paper using a dry-erase marker. Regular practice keeps the learning process fresh and interesting.

– Stay Patient and Positive

Learning to spell, especially for children in special education, can sometimes be challenging. It’s important to remember that progress might be slow, and mistakes are natural steps towards mastering spelling.

Keep the atmosphere positive, and celebrate small victories. Your encouragement can spark the determination they need to persevere.

More Multisensory Resources

Do you have a child that needs one on one assistance?

We offer one-on-one special education tutoring that can be done from anywhere the student is! Why? Because our special education experts conduct their sessions online!

Get started with a free consultation today!

Make spelling practice fun and effective with these multisensory spelling activities for children and teens.