Start Writing My Name
Letter and name recognition are early literacy milestones for young children. This activity provides creative engagements in tactile and kinesthetic learning.
1. 3-D names. Children use Crayola® Model Magic to create the letters of their names. Observe the use of upper- and lower-case letters, variations in name lengths, similarities in letters in names, and other letter and word characteristics.
2. Design decorative patterns on Model Magic letters with beads or other craft materials. Dry 24 hours.
3. 2-D names. When children have the interest and sufficient muscle control to begin writing, use Crayola Write Start Colored Pencils or Construction Paper Crayons to make personal name plates by writing their own names on white paper.
4. Embellish names with colorful patterns or repeated lines. Or use crayon rubbings to add texture to the letters or background. Place the paper on a textured surface and rub with the pencil or side of a crayon with the paper wrapper removed.
5. Mat the name plates on larger pieces of construction paper with Crayola Washable Glue Sticks.
Adult supervision is required for any arts & crafts project. Observe children closely and intervene as necessary to prevent potential safety problems and ensure appropriate use of arts and crafts materials. Some craft items, particularly beads and buttons, are potential choking hazards for young children. Avoid use of such small parts with children younger than 3 years. Craft items such as scissors, push pins and chenille sticks may have sharp points or edges. Avoid use of materials with sharp points by children younger than 4 years. Read all manufacturers' safety warnings before using arts and craft supplies.
Crayola Modeling Materials including Crayola Model Magic®, and Model Magic Fusion™, Crayola Air-Dry Clay, and Crayola Dough—
- Keep away from open flames. Do not use to make candleholders, hot plates, trivets, or other similar objects that will be used or placed near fire and other heat sources.
- Do not put in an oven, microwave, or kiln.
- Do not make into vessels/containers that will hold unpackaged food.
- The use of modeling material to make items that look like food is discouraged for children younger than age 5 to avoid their confusion with real food.
- Unless sealed with a water-resistant glaze, do not make projects exposed to or immersed in water, such as boats or outdoor bird feeders. They would disintegrate when exposed to moisture.
- Crayola Dough—contains gluten (wheat flour) as an ingredient.
- Crayola Air-Dry Clay, Crayola Model Magic and Model Magic Fusion are gluten-free. However, they are produced on the same machinery as Crayola Dough which does contain gluten. Although the machines are cleaned prior to the start of each production run, there is a slight possibility that trace amounts of gluten from Crayola Dough may be present in the other modeling compound products. For information regarding specific ingredients or allergic concerns, please call our Consumer Affairs department at 1-800-272-9652 weekdays between 9 AM and 4 PM Eastern Standard Time.
- Model Magic letters can be used to play sorting games, matching games with upper- and lower-case letters, and phonics games. Some children may be so interested, they will want to create a whole alphabet.
- Younger children and those with special needs may be most successful if they have samples of their names to follow. Older students can make more challenging "overstuffed" outline or cursive letters.
- Hang name plates on a school bulletin board, on children's cubbies, or at home.
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