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Until I had a child in preschool, I really just thought show-and-tell was about bringing the cool toy you got for Christmas or any other random thing the child decided to take. Little did I know that show-and-tell was every single week! Or that I had to find something to fit the theme of the week. Sometimes it’s something that reminds you of fall. Sometimes it’s a favorite Christmas decoration. Usually it has to start with a certain letter.
I’m sure I’m not the only parent who runs around the house looking in cupboards and toy baskets trying to find something that starts with “k” 10 minutes before it’s time to leave for school. Seriously, why is it so hard to think of things that start with a letter on the spot?
(Side note: When my oldest was maybe two we were working on letters. I had showed him a “p” and tried to think of things that started with “p.” “Pig” was easy…and then all I could think of was “pterodactyl,” which did start with “p” but was kind of missing the point.)
Anyway, aside from starting to get a few things out the night before for my son to pick from for show-and-tell, I decided to start a list of everything I could think of for each letter. I realize not everyone would have all of these things, but the more things listed, the more chance one of them will work for you!
Try to think of things only you would have, things that are a color that starts with the letter, or even just a picture or magnet of something. Check your pantry. Instead of just thinking all of your kid’s cars are “cars,” think about whether there is a race car, a Jeep, a pickup truck, or a monster truck. Get creative, start ahead of time, and have fun!
Aa
- acorn
- airplane
- alligator
- allspice
- almonds
- ambulance
- anchor
- angel
- animals
- ant
- ape
- apple
- applesauce
- ax
Bb
- baby
- backhoe
- ball
- balloon
- banana
- Band-Aide
- bat
- beads
- beans
- bear
- bee
- bell
- bib
- bird
- blocks
- boat
- bobby pins
- book
- bow
- bracelet
- bubbles
- bulldozer
- bus
- buttons
Cc
- camouflage
- can
- candle
- candy
- car
- carrot
- cat
- caterpillar
- CD
- cement truck
- cereal
- chain
- chair
- chalk
- change
- chap stick
- charger
- checkers
- cheddar cheese
- cherries
- Cherrios
- Chevy
- chick
- chili
- China
- cinnamon
- colored pencils
- coloring book
- comb
- conditioner
- construction cone
- convertible
- cookie cutter
- corn
- cotton balls
- crane truck
- crayon
- cup
Dd
- dancer
- diamond
- diaper
- dice
- digger
- dinosaur
- dog
- doll
- doughnut
- dragon
- dragonfly
- drum
- duck
- dump truck
- DVD
Ee
- eagle
- earmuffs
- earplugs
- earrings
- Easter egg
- Easter basket
- eclair
- Eeyore
- egg
- elephant
- elf
- envelope
- eraser
- exclamation mark
- exit sign
- eye drops
- eye patch
Ff
- family (picture)
- fan
- fidget spinner
- finger nail polish
- fingerprint
- finger puppet
- firetruck
- fish
- flamingo
- flashlight
- floss
- football
- fork
- fox
- frog
- Froot Loops
- fruit
- funnel
Gg
- garbage bag
- garbage truck
- garlic powder
- Gatorade
- gauze
- gecko
- gift bag/box
- gingerbread man
- glitter
- gloves
- glow sticks
- glue
- golf ball
- goose
- graham cracker
- granola bar
- green
- green beans
- grizzly bear
- gummies
- guitar
Hh
- hairbrush
- hair clip
- hammer
- hand sanitizer
- hand towel
- handkerchief
- hand soap
- hanger
- hat
- headband
- heart
- Heath bar
- heating pad
- helmet
- hero
- hexagon
- honey
- hook
- horse
- hot chocolate
- hot dog
- house
Ii
- ice
- ice cream
- ice cream scooper
- ice cube tray
- ice melt
- icicle
- icing
- ID card
- igloo
- IKEA (magazine)
- Incredibles
- ink
- instrument
- Iron Man
- ivory
Jj
- jack-o-lantern
- jack in the box
- Jacks
- jam
- jammies
- jar
- Jawbreaker
- jazz
- jeans
- Jeep
- Jell-O
- jelly
- jelly beans
- jersey (sports team)
- jet
- joke
- Jolly Rancher
- juice box
- jump rope
- Jurassic (movie, dinosaur)
Kk
- kaleidoscope
- kangaroo
- kayak
- kazoo
- ketchup
- kettle corn
- keys
- kidney beans
- king
- kisses (candy kisses)
- kite
- Kit Kat
- kitten
- kiwi
- Kleenex
- koala
Ll
- ladder
- lamb
- lanyard
- Lays potato chips
- leaf
- lemon
- Lightening McQueen
- lime
- lion
- lipgloss
- lipstick
- liquid
- lizard
- loader
- loaf (of bread)
- lock
- lotion
Mm
- M&Ms
- Mack
- magazine
- magnet
- marble
- marker
- Mater
- measuring cup
- mermaid
- Mickey Mouse
- mints
- mittens
- monster truck
- motorcycle
- moose
- monkey
- mountain
- mouse
- mushroom
Nn
- nail
- nail clippers
- nail polish
- napkins
- necklace
- needlepoint
- Neosporin
- nest
- net
- newspaper
- nickle
- noodle
- notebook
- nutmeg
- nuts
Oo
- oak
- Oscar the Grouch
- oatmeal
- oats
- octopus
- Olaf
- olives
- Optimus Prime
- orange
- orchid
- organizer
- ornament
- oval
- oven
- owl
- Oxford dictionary
Pp
- paint
- paintbrush
- pajamas
- panda
- paper
- paper bowl
- paperclips
- paper plate
- pear
- pen
- pencil
- penguin
- piano
- pickle
- pickup truck
- picture
- pie
- pig
- pillowcase
- pineapple
- plastic straw
- Play-Doh
- pliers
- plum
- police car
- pom poms
- popcorn
- potato
- q-tip
- quail
- Quaker Oats
- quarter
- queen
- question mark
- quilt
- quinoa
Rr
- rabbit
- race car
- race track
- rag
- rainbow
- raisins
- remote
- rice
- ribbon
- ring
- road
- robot
- rock
- rubber bands
- rubber cement
Ss
- salt
- sandal
- sandpaper
- Santa
- saw
- scarf
- school bus
- screw
- screwdriver
- seeds
- shampoo
- shaving cream
- sheep
- shingle
- ship
- shoe
- shoehorn
- Shrek
- shrub
- slinky
- slippers
- snake
- soap
- soccer ball
- socks
- soup
- spaghetti
- spatula
- spider
- Spiderman
- spoon
- star
- stegosaurus
- straw
- strawberries
- sucker
- sunflower
- sunglasses
Tt
- tablespoon
- tambourine
- tank truck
- tape
- tape measure
- teaspoon
- tennis ball
- tennis shoe
- thank you card
- Thanksgiving (decoration)
- thermometer
- thickener
- thimble
- thumb
- tie
- timer
- Tinkerbell
- tissue
- toilet paper
- toothbrush
- toothpaste
- toothpicks
- tractor
- trailer
- train
- treasure
- t-rex
- truck
- turtle
- twine
Uu
- ugly sweater
- umbrella
- uncle (picture)
- underwear
- unicorn
- United States
- university (gear)
- Ursula
- Utah
- utensils
Vv
- vacuum
- valentine
- van
- vapor rub
- Vaseline
- vegetable
- vintage
- violin
Ww
- waffle
- wagon
- wash rag
- watch
- water bottle
- watermelon
- wax
- whale
- Whatchamacallit
- Wheat Thins
- wheel
- wheelbarrow
- wheelchair
- whisk
- white
- wipes
- wooden spoon
- wooden car
- wrapper
- wrench
Xx
- X-Men
- x-ray
- xylophone
- taxi
- fox
- box
Yy
- yacht
- yak
- yam
- yardstick
- yarn
- yeast
- yellow
- yeti
- yo-yo
Zz
- zebra
- Zelda
- zero
- zigzag ribbon
- Zinger
- Ziploc
- zipper
- zombie
- zucchini
