August 2025 (PDF)

Daily literacy-building activities to share with your child.
AUGUST 2025
S U N D A Y
M O N D A Y
T U E S D A Y
W E D N E S D A Y
T H U R S D A Y
F R I D A Y
S A T U R D A Y
	 1	
WRITING
Use building toys like LEGO 
or wooden blocks to form 
letters of the alphabet.
	 2	
PLAYING
Have a scavenger hunt. Ask 
your child to find something 
round, square, red, blue, etc.
	 3	
TALKING
Talk about bigger 
and smaller.
What is bigger,  
a giraffe or an ant?  
A house or a cat?
	 4	
SINGING
Make music with things you 
have in the house like pots, 
pans, spoons, boxes, and 
cups.
	 5	
COUNTING
Talk about time. How long 
does it take to get to the 
park? How long does it take 
to get to the library?
	 6	
READING
Read a nonfiction book 
about birds. Talk about what 
you’ve learned. Say the 
rhyme “If I Were a Bird.”
(Words are on the back. 
)
	 7	
WRITING
Label the things in your 
child’s room. Bed, dresser, 
table, book, closet. Point to 
the words and discuss.
	 8	
PLAYING
Play with blocks.  
What can you make?  
Form the  
blocks into a  
letter shape.
	 9	
TALKING
Take an alphabet walk 
outside. Talk about things 
that begin with different 
letter sounds.
	 10	
SINGING
Sing or say “The Itsy Bitsy 
Spider.”
(Words are  
on the  
back. 
)
	 11	 COUNTING
Put the family’s shoes 
in order from biggest to 
smallest. 
	 12	 READING
Go to the library and check 
out a new book.
	 13	
WRITING
Draw a picture for a 
grandparent or other 
important person. Be sure to 
“sign” it.
	 14	 PLAYING
Play “What Fits?” Will the 
car fit inside your shoe? Will 
your shoe fit inside the car?
	 15	
TALKING
Plan a visit to your local 
library. Talk with your child 
about everything the library 
offers (books, toys, games, 
programs, etc.).
	 16	
SINGING
Pick a new kind of music you 
haven’t listened to before. 
Listen together. Discuss.
	 17	 COUNTING
Set the table for a meal. 
How many plates will you 
need? How many utensils? 
Napkins?
	 18	 READING
Have a family storytime. 
Each person  
picks a book.
	 19	
WRITING
Use play dough to shape 
your child’s  
first name.
	 20	 PLAYING
Play the yes-no game about 
time.
Is it time for breakfast? Is it time 
to read? Is it time for kisses?
	 21	
TALKING
Before going to bed, talk 
about things you did this 
morning, this afternoon, and 
tonight. What will you do 
tomorrow?
	 22	 SINGING
Sing a “good morning” song 
to greet your child in the 
morning.
23	COUNTING
Go on a nature walk and 
count items you find, such 
as leaves, rocks, or flowers.
	 24	 READING
Choose a picture book and 
read it together.
	 25	 WRITING
Write your child’s first name. 
Talk about the first letter of 
their name. Make the sound 
and say words that begin 
with the letter.
	 26	 PLAYING
Sing “Scarecrow, Scarecrow” 
and do all the movements.
(Words are on the back. 
)
	 27	 TALKING
Offer choices today.
Do you want this book or that 
one? Do you want water or milk? 
Would you like a banana or 
strawberries?
	 28	 SINGING
Take turns singing bits of 
favorite songs.
29	 COUNTING
Create a picture graph with 
two meal options. Have each 
family member vote for their 
preferred choice, and then 
tally the votes together with 
your child.
	 30	 READING
Look at pictures in 
magazines or newspapers. 
Take turns telling stories 
about the pictures.
	 31	
WRITING
Create letters with playdough 
to improve fine motor skills.
W W W . P L A . O R G

Check out these books at the library. If they are not available,  
ask the librarian for a recommendation.
Books to Read 
this Month
FOR READERS AGES 0–3
Frog – Little Lifecycles
by Maggie Li
Alma, Head to Toe/Alma, de pies a cabeza
by Juana Martinez Neal
FOR 
READERS 
AGES 3+
Bugs Everywhere
by Lily Murray
Dalmartian:  
A Mars  
Rover’s Story
by Lucy Ruth Cummins
Children’s reading success in kindergarten 
and beyond begins with positive language and 
literacy experiences from the time they are 
infants. 
•	 Young children have shorter attention spans. You can do activities for short bits of 
time throughout the day or whenever you have the chance.
•	 You can help your children learn in ways and at times that are best for them.
•	 Children learn best by doing—and they love doing things with YOU!
IF I WERE A BIRD
If I were a bird, I’d sing a song
And fly about the whole day long.
And when the night comes, go to rest,
Up in my cozy little nest.
SCARECROW, 
SCARECROW 
Sing to the tune of “Twinkle, 
Twinkle, Little Star”
Scarecrow, scarecrow, turn around, 
Scarecrow, scarecrow, touch the ground. 
Stand up tall and blink your eyes. 
Raise your hands up to the sky. 
Scarecrow, scarecrow, touch your toes. 
Scarecrow, scarecrow, tap your nose. 
Swing your arms so very slow, 
Now real fast to scare the crows. 
Raise your head, jump up and down. 
Now sit down without a sound.
THE ITSY BITSY SPIDER
The itsy bitsy spider went up the water 
spout. 
(Move fingers up toward sky) 
Down came the rain and washed the spider 
out. 
(Bring fingers down and back) 
Out came the sun and dried up all the rain 
(Move arms up over head) 
And the itsy bitsy spider climbed up the 
spout again.
(Move fingers up toward sky)
REPEAT WITH “GREAT BIG SPIDER” USING A GRUFF, 
DEEP VOICE.