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OMG! It’s spooky season and I’m so excited for all of the amazing Halloween goodies this year! I’m kicking it off with this adorable printable activity set. This set is perfect for a little Flisat table setup or you can use the pieces as decor for your Little Boo’s Halloween Party. I’m doing both this year and I’m teaming up with my favorite @CharsJar_s to bring you a spooky little collaboration.
This set was so much fun to design, but it was even more fun to watch Sofie play with.
Printable Classroom: https://www.etsy.com/listing/1066224135
Pencil bows: https://www.etsy.com/shop/SewDaintyBowtique
Wooden Pencil: https://www.etsy.com/shop/OakAndCoshop
It’s the perfect way to get your kiddo in the mood for back to school or for your preschooler, perhaps a way to introduce them prior to their first day of school! Dramatic play is so important for kids and Sofie had so much fun learning these classroom concepts. Pretending to write on the chalkboard, practicing her ABCs, learning the alphabet, practicing telling time on the clock and practicing the days of the week were such a blast. She was quite distracted by having the apple on the board. We also used the little cards to practice school subjects. Sofie really liked the gym card because it has all of the balls on it. She kept saying, “Milo’s ball!” We played with this little setup for about two weeks and everyday Sofie would be the teacher teaching me a new subject.
A SIMPLE START TO EARLY READING
Learning the alphabet is only the beginning. This parent-friendly guide walks you through a playful reading journey—from first letter exposure to phonics, sound blending and early reading fluency.
Free printable · Play-based practice · Flexible guidance for ages 2–6
When I first started helping Sofia learn her letters, I assumed I could simply point to each one and say its sound.
Then I reached letters like A, C and G and realized how quickly phonics becomes confusing for a parent who was never taught how to teach it. Which sound comes first? Should I say the letter name too? When do we begin blending sounds into words?
I did not want reading practice to feel like a lesson she had to sit through. I wanted it to feel like the rest of our learning—short, playful and connected to things she already enjoyed.
So I created a simple reference sheet for myself and began practicing one letter sound at a time. We jumped to letters on the floor, built letter shapes, searched for sounds in books and hid cards inside sensory bins.
That small shift made phonics feel manageable for both of us. This guide is designed to give you the same clear starting point.
FREE PARENT REFERENCE
The free GoodnightFox Phonics Cheat Sheet gives you a clear visual reference for the most useful sound to introduce first, plus additional sounds children may encounter later.
You will also receive playful early-literacy ideas and occasional GoodnightFox product updates. Unsubscribe anytime.
WHY PHONICS MATTERS
Phonics helps children understand that written letters and letter combinations represent sounds in spoken words.
As children strengthen this connection, they become better able to hear beginning sounds, blend simple words and attempt unfamiliar words instead of relying only on memorization.
WHY THIS FEELS HARD
Parents are often told to “teach the letter sounds” without being shown which sound to introduce first or how much information a young child actually needs.
You do not need to teach every possible sound at once. Begin with one common, easy-to-hear sound and introduce variations naturally as your child encounters them in books and conversation.
THE GOODNIGHTFOX READING SYSTEM
Children do not move from seeing the alphabet to independently reading books in one leap. Reading develops through connected stages: letter exposure, recognition, phonics, sound blending and increasingly fluent word reading.
The GoodnightFox Reading Journey helps you identify the stage your child is currently exploring and choose a playful next step.
ANIMAL ALPHABET
Approximately ages 1–3
Children begin noticing letters through memorable animal illustrations, familiar words and playful visual associations.
Explore Animal Alphabet Cards →ALPHABET
Approximately ages 3–5
Children learn to recognize, name and match uppercase and lowercase letters.
Explore Alphabet Flashcards →PHONICS
Approximately ages 4–6
Children connect printed letters with their most common spoken sounds.
Explore Letter Sounds Flashcards →CVC WORDS
Approximately ages 4–6
Children combine individual letter sounds to read short words such as cat, dog, sun and pig.
Explore the Reading Bundle →SIGHT WORDS
Approximately ages 4–6
Children build automatic recognition of frequently encountered words while continuing to use phonics to decode unfamiliar words.
Explore the Reading Bundle →Letter pairs such as sh, ch, th and wh help children move beyond one-letter, one-sound patterns.
Hearing shared endings and sound patterns supports phonological awareness and prepares children to recognize word families.
WHERE SHOULD WE BEGIN?
These age ranges and stages are flexible guides—not deadlines. Children may move back and forth between skills or work on several at the same time.
START SMALL
Introduce one primary sound and keep the explanation short.
“This is B. B makes the /b/ sound, like ball.”
Connect the sound to your child’s name, a favorite animal, toy or food.
Trace the letter, build it with dough, hop to it or hide its card in a sensory bin.
Point out the sound naturally in a title, character name or familiar word.
End after a few successful repetitions rather than continuing until your child is frustrated.
LEARNING THROUGH PLAY
The cards are most effective when they become part of a game, sensory invitation, movement activity or conversation—not when a child is asked to sit through an entire stack.
LATER IN THE JOURNEY
Sight-word practice should support phonics rather than replace it. Children can learn to recognize frequently encountered words while still sounding out unfamiliar words and studying how letters work together.
THE COMPLETE HANDS-ON SYSTEM
The free cheat sheet gives you a reference for teaching letter sounds. The physical Reading Flashcards Bundle gives your child coordinated, reusable tools for practicing the skills that come before and after phonics.
A CALMER WAY TO PRACTICE
They do not need to. Hide cards, spread them across the floor, use only two at a time or combine them with movement and sensory play.
Keep the free phonics cheat sheet nearby and begin with the primary sound shown.
Letter recognition is one stage. Continue building sound awareness, blending, rhyme and word-pattern knowledge.
The Reading Bundle supports the skills that come after basic alphabet recognition, including phonics, digraphs, rhyme and sight words.
NOT READY FOR THE BUNDLE?
Download the free reference, practice for a few playful minutes and return to the Reading Journey whenever you are unsure what comes next.
Ready for the next step? These pair perfectly with the activities above:
PHONICS FAQ
PHONICS FAQ
Many children begin noticing letters and sounds during the preschool years. Follow your child’s interest and keep practice playful and pressure-free.
Children can learn both. The name identifies the letter symbol, while the sound explains how the letter functions inside words.
Begin with a common, easy-to-hear sound. Use the phonics cheat sheet as a practical reference for primary and secondary sounds.
Three to five focused minutes can be plenty for a young child. Stop before the activity becomes frustrating.
No. You can begin with the letters in your child’s name, follow their interests or use a structured progression.
No. Sight words can be practiced alongside phonics, but children still need to learn how letters and sounds work together.
Digraphs are two letters that work together to represent one sound, such as sh, ch and th.
Begin simple blending once your child knows several common letter sounds and can hear individual sounds inside short words.
The primary Reading Flashcards Bundle is a physical product. A separate printable version is also available.
START WHERE YOU ARE
Begin with the free parent reference. Practice for a few playful minutes. When your child is ready for the next stage, use the Reading Bundle to continue building.
Teaching your toddler letter sounds shouldn’t feel overwhelming… but for many parents, it does.
If you’ve ever sat down to teach the alphabet and thought:
“Why does letter A make so many sounds?”
“What do I actually teach first?”
“Am I doing this right?”
You’re not alone — and that’s exactly why I created a super simple Phonics Cheat Sheet that breaks everything down in a clear, visual way.
Before you dive in, grab the FREE printable phonics cheat sheet below — it’s the perfect quick-reference guide for teaching letter sounds the stress-free way.
Phonics is the foundation of early reading. When toddlers learn letter sounds, they’re building:
Early decoding skills
Sound awareness (phonemic awareness)
Confidence with letters
The ability to blend sounds later
This is one of the biggest predictors of future reading success — and starting early (in a playful, low-pressure way!) makes all the difference.
Letters don’t just make one sound.
For example:
A → /a/ /ā/ /ah/
C → /k/ /s/
G → /g/ /j/
It’s no wonder parents feel unsure about teaching phonics at home.
That’s why I designed the Phonics Cheat Sheet — it lists every common letter sound in a toddler-friendly format that matches how you’ll teach them in preschool and kindergarten.
💡 Pro Tip: Keep the cheat sheet on your fridge or in your homeschool binder for quick reference during activities.
1. Start with the most common sound
Each letter has multiple sounds, but toddlers should begin with the one they’ll use most often. The free cheat sheet highlights these clearly.
2. Use real objects and sensory play
Examples:
Hide objects that begin with /b/ in a sensory bin
Make letter-sound “scooping” stations
Use playdough to form letters while saying the sound
3. Keep practice short and playful
Think: 3–5 minutes of focused phonics paired with hands-on fun.
4. Repeat sounds often and casually
Point out letter sounds while cooking, driving, reading — the more repeated exposure, the better.
This printable includes:
The most common sound for every letter
Secondary sounds parents often forget
A toddler-friendly layout that builds confidence
Beautiful pastel illustrations that make learning feel fun
A quick-reference tool you can use with ANY activity
If your toddler loves hands-on learning, my Letter Sounds Flashcards are the perfect companion to the cheat sheet. They help toddlers:
Practice sounds through play
Match objects to beginning sounds
Build fine motor skills through sorting, matching, and sensory play
Gain confidence before preschool or kindergarten
Parents tell me all the time how these cards completely transformed their reading routine — making it something their child asks to do.
✨ After downloading the cheat sheet, keep an eye on your inbox.
I’ll send you a few playful phonics activities + an exclusive discount on the physical flashcards.
Here are easy, low-prep ideas that work with the cheat sheet and flashcards:
Sensory sound hunt — hide cards or objects that begin with the same sound in a sensory bin
Letter sorting tray — match picture cards to their beginning letter
Sound hop — place letters on the floor and let your toddler hop to the sound you call
Mini sound stations — set up 3 baskets labeled with letters and let your toddler sort objects
These are the kinds of activities that make learning feel like PLAY — and get those little neurons firing.
Download your free cheat sheet below and start feeling confident teaching letter sounds — in minutes.
Creating a pretend play vet clinic is a fantastic way to spark imaginative play while teaching kids about animal care, empathy, and fine motor skills. Whether your child dreams of being a veterinarian or simply loves animals, this vibrant sensory bin setup will keep them engaged in hands-on learning.
This DIY vet clinic is designed with teal and coral pink pastel decor, making it an inviting space for little animal doctors. With an interactive patient intake form, a cozy waiting area, and fun “X-ray” printables, kids will feel like real veterinarians caring for their furry patients!
To create this immersive play experience, you’ll need:
✔️ Sensory bin containers (IKEA Flisat table works great!)
✔️ Teal and coral pink printable vet clinic signs (awning, flag, banner, X-ray board, waiting room sign)
✔️ Printable patient intake forms
✔️ Stuffed animal dogs and cats OR resin pet figurines
✔️ Wooden dramatic play vet tools (stethoscope, syringe, thermometer, bandages, clipboard, and medicine bottles)
✔️ Themed sensory fillers (see ideas below!)
0-6 months: Sensory exploration with textures and colors.
6-12 months: Fine motor play with soft animals and textured fillers.
12 months-2 years: Engaging in pretend play by “caring” for pets.
3-4 years: Role-playing a vet visit, practicing simple problem-solving.
4-6 years: Using pretend tools, writing on patient intake forms, and sorting animals by type or “injury.”
This pretend vet clinic feels realistic with these fun printables and props:
• Teal and coral pink striped awning: Sets the scene for a welcoming animal hospital.
• Hanging flag with a paw print logo: A fun way to mark the clinic entrance!
• Waiting Room Sign: Encourages kids to “check-in” their pets before their appointment.
• Patient Intake Form: Includes spots for pet names, symptoms, and treatment plans.
• X-ray Board: Printables showing different animal bones for an interactive learning experience.
• Vet Clinic Banner: Ties everything together with a professional-looking sign.
This printable decor makes it easy to transform any playroom into a vet clinic in minutes!
✔️ Filler: Cotton balls or white rice (to mimic a vet exam table)
✔️ Tools: Wooden stethoscope, syringe, thermometer
✔️ Animals: Resin dog and cat figurines OR stuffed animals
✔️ Printables: Patient intake forms
1. Have kids “check-in” their pet by filling out a patient intake form.
2. Use the wooden stethoscope to “listen” to the pet’s heartbeat.
3. Give shots and take temperatures using the pretend play tools.
4. Discuss how vets care for pets and why check-ups are important.
🔎 Activity Extender: Add toy X-ray sheets and have kids “scan” their pet for broken bones!
✔️ Filler: Kinetic sand or oatmeal (to mimic fur)
✔️ Tools: Small brush, comb, sponge, spray bottle
✔️ Animals: Stuffed animal dogs and cats
✔️ Accessories: Mini bows, bandanas, or pet collars
1. Pretend that some pets need a bath and grooming before their vet appointment.
2. Brush and “trim” their fur using safe pretend tools.
3. Dress them up with tiny bandanas or bows!
💡 Activity Extender: Give kids a spray bottle of water + a drop of essential oil for a fun “pet spa” experience.
✔️ Filler: Blue dyed chickpeas (represent medicine pills)
✔️ Tools: Tweezers, mini cups, small bandages
✔️ Animals: Resin pets with pretend “injuries” (a paw wrapped in gauze, etc.)
1. Use tweezers to sort “medicine” (blue chickpeas) into tiny cups.
2. Wrap “injured” pets in soft fabric or bandages.
3. Create a recovery area with small beds and blankets.
🩺 Activity Extender: Let kids “write prescriptions” for their pets on mini notepads!
This vet clinic sensory play setup encourages:
✔️ Fine motor skills (using tweezers, stethoscope, and bandages)
✔️ Cognitive development (problem-solving while diagnosing pets)
✔️ Social-emotional learning (practicing empathy and care for animals)
✔️ Early writing skills (filling out intake forms and prescriptions)
📅 Monday: Read a book about visiting the vet (e.g., Biscuit Visits the Vet).
📅 Tuesday: Pretend play with the Vet Clinic Sensory Bins.
📅 Wednesday: Practice sorting pets by size, color, or breed.
📅 Thursday: Make a DIY collar tag craft for stuffed animals.
📅 Friday: Watch an educational video about real veterinarians.
📅 Saturday: Go on a field trip to a pet store or visit an animal shelter.
📅 Sunday: Review new words and role-play a vet clinic visit with a friend or sibling.
1. Vet
2. Patient
3. Stethoscope
4. Syringe
5. Bandage
6. X-ray
7. Check-up
8. Grooming
9. Medicine
10. Thermometer
11. Diagnosis
12. Treatment
13. Surgery
14. Recovery
15. Paw
16. Tail
17. Fur
18. Rescue
19. Hospital
20. Vaccine
21. Waiting room
22. Collar
23. Adoption
24. Nurse
25. Care
This pretend play vet clinic setup provides hours of educational fun, fostering creativity and problem-solving while engaging kids in meaningful play. Whether you’re using resin figurines or stuffed animals, printable vet forms, or wooden doctor tools, this interactive sensory experience is a perfect indoor activity for toddlers and preschoolers.
Ready to set up your own vet clinic play station? Grab my printable vet clinic dramatic play set to make it easy!
📌 Save this post for later and share it with a friend who loves sensory play!
✔️ Sensory play ideas for toddlers
✔️ DIY sensory activities for toddlers
✔️ Toddler sensory bin ideas
✔️ Easy sensory play setups
✔️ Educational sensory play for toddlers
✔️ Themed sensory play ideas for toddlers (e.g., vet clinic)
✔️ Pretend play vet clinic for kids
✔️ Dramatic play vet clinic setup
✔️ Indoor sensory activities for toddlers
✔️ Creative sensory play for toddlers
🐶 Pet Kits are coming Dec 12 🐶
I’m so excited to share that I’ve teamed up with @_busy_littles and @curiouswren to bring you three amazing pet theme dramatic play kits bundle into one!
Kits will include:
🐩 Dog breed flashcards from @goodnightfox
🐕 Dog breed resin pieces from @_busy_littles
🦴 Colorful matching bones from @_busy_littles
🐾 Three color jars of playdoh from @curiouswren
👩🏻⚕️Printable Vet Kit by @goodnightfox
🐕🦺 Printable Pet Adoption Kit by @goodnightfox
🛁 Printable Dog Wash Kit by @goodnightfox
All of this goodness is dropping on December 12th and shipping in time for the holidays! So for you last minute shoppers here’s your chance to sneak one more amazing gift under the tree for your little animal lovers. There will only be 10 kits available on drop day.
Are you looking for a thrilling and educational Halloween activity for your little ghouls and goblins? Look no further than our Haunted House Halloween Sensory Play! This interactive sensory experience will not only captivate their imaginations but also stimulate their senses and boost their vocabulary. Read on to discover the spooky decor, engaging activities, and a list of 25 vocabulary words perfect for ages 3-6.
The Haunted House Halloween Sensory Play is all about creating an immersive experience for your child. Start by printing a haunted house template, complete with spooky details, and place it as the centerpiece of your play space. Hang a ghostly sign and a flag with eerie symbols to add an extra touch of spookiness. Don't forget to scatter cutouts of bats, spiders, eyeballs, candy corn, and witches hats throughout the area. These decorations will create an engaging and visually stimulating atmosphere for your little ones.
To heighten the sensory experience, prepare two sensory bins filled with black and orange dyed quinoa. The contrasting colors will create an exciting visual effect, making the play session even more captivating. The quinoa's texture enhances fine motor skills and encourages exploration. Hide the cutouts within the filler and provide pinchers for your child to dig them out. This activity promotes hand-eye coordination and the development of fine motor control.
In addition to the sensory bins, incorporate matching games using flashcards into the play session. Create flashcards featuring the same spooky cutouts found within the sensory bins. Encourage your child to search for the corresponding flashcard once they've uncovered a cutout. This engaging activity helps develop cognitive abilities like memory, attention to detail, and pattern recognition.
Sensory play offers numerous developmental benefits for young children. It stimulates their five senses - sight, sound, touch, smell, and taste - as they explore different textures, colors, and shapes. This type of play enhances cognitive skills, such as problem-solving, critical thinking, and creativity. Moreover, sensory play engages children's fine motor skills, promoting their hand-eye coordination and dexterity.
As your child revels in the Haunted House Halloween Sensory Play, they will also build their vocabulary. Here is a list of 25 spooky words, perfect for ages 3-6, to enrich their language skills through this activity theme setup:
1. Ghost
2. Skeleton
3. Vampire
4. Witch
5. Bat
6. Spider
7. Mummy
8. Haunted
9. Candy
10. Pumpkin
11. Cackle
12. Cauldron
13. Broomstick
14. Trick-or-treat
15. Boo
16. Costume
17. Cobweb
18. Jack-o'-lantern
19. Potion
20. Moon
21. Monster
22. Fangs
23. Ghoulish
24. Eerie
25. Spooky
Introduce these words during play, associating them with the corresponding cutouts and flashcards. By incorporating vocabulary into this Halloween-themed sensory play, you can foster a love for learning and expand your child's language skills.
This Halloween, make learning spooktacularly fun with the Haunted House Halloween Sensory Play! Engage your child's senses, promote cognitive development, and expand their vocabulary with this thrilling activity. Get ready for a hauntingly good time!
Tired of the typical fall sensory bins? Need to slice it up with something simple yet fun? Check out these creative ideas for new sensory table fun that’s fit for fall. Pin this post to save all of these ideas for later!
First up we have this awesome fall themed camping setup complete with camping printables from Goodnightfoxstudio.etsy.com, camping adventure toys from @tenderleaftoys, and a pretend play campfire kit from @crateandkids. Sofie loves to snack and play so we paired this setup with some yummy s’mores granola which was a total hit.
Next up we have this awesome pumpkin spice coffee shop setup perfect for all the fall vibes. Plus the smell of the coffee beans really made it a hit for mom too!
This one was a super last minute invitation to play that I set up when Sofie woke up early from her nap. Because obviously #momlife we simply can’t make gorgeous setups everyday. the good news is Sofie loves to read books on my lap and tinker with small objects so this was still a great fall activity. For this setup we used the Little Acorn board book and the Pumpkin Pie board book.
This was another easy one. We took our Tender Leaf Toys Woodland animals and paired them up with our Woodland Animal Learning cards. It was so fun to watch Sofie match the animals and also make up little stories about each one.
And last but not least, this farm animal Lego setup was an absolute blast. This one was definitely messy and we ended up covered in fake mud! I used a mixture of cacao powder, water and cornstarch to make it edible but not tasty. Oatmeal and corn of course for the farm. And then paired it with Duplo Farm Animals and Farm Animal Matching Cards.
A clear bottle, some water, and a handful of treasures — sensory bottles are the easiest calm-down tool you'll ever make, and kids are mesmerized by them.
A sensory bottle is exactly what it sounds like: a sealed bottle filled with things to watch. Shake it, flip it, roll it — beads swirl, glitter drifts, little charms tumble slowly to the bottom. They are wonderful for car rides, waiting rooms, quiet time, and the top of a calming corner, because they give busy hands and busy minds one slow, beautiful thing to follow.
One color per bottle keeps it beautiful instead of muddy. We did pink, sunshine yellow, green, and blue — each with matching beads, bricks, and charms. Let your child pick their color; choosing is half the fun.
Squeeze a generous ribbon of clear glue into the empty bottle — about a quarter of the bottle. More glue means slower, dreamier movement. Then fill almost to the top with warm water and shake gently to mix.
Add a small handful of beads, a few LEGO bricks, and one or two acrylic charms. Less is more — you want to watch each piece drift, not a traffic jam. Our favorites were the little fox, sun, rainbow, and snow-cloud charms.
Top off with water, leaving just a finger of air at the top. Run a ring of hot glue around the inside of the cap (adults only), screw it on tight, and let it set. This is the step that keeps the bottle a toy instead of a spill.
One of our favorite versions of this craft: a set of four bottles, one for each season. Same method, different treasures — and a lovely way to talk about the seasons with toddlers.
How do you keep sensory bottles from leaking?
Hot-glue the cap on — run glue around the inside rim, screw it tight, and let it cure. Check the seal every few months with heavy use.
What liquid goes in a sensory bottle?
Warm water plus clear glue. More glue = slower movement. A drop of dish soap can help glitter spread instead of clumping.
Are sensory bottles safe for toddlers?
Yes once sealed — there are no small parts accessible. Always supervise, and retire any bottle with a cracked cap or cloudy seal.
How long do they last?
Months. If the water gets cloudy, unscrew, rinse, and refill — the treasures can be reused.
It’s Hot Cocoa season! And I’m so excited to share this downloadable, printable Hot Chocolate Kit. This kit includes so many great goodies and opportunities to learn. Big thank you to Busy Littles for the sensory kit and @rene.gowen for the photography!
Hot Chocolate Banner
Toppings Labels
Pennant Flag
Baby it’s Cold Outside Sign
Cut outs
Fractions Practice Fill-a-cup Activity
Two The Moon Girly Space Themed Rocket Ship Birthday Party
Read more
Have I mentioned that I love Halloween!? Okay so Halloween is definitely my favorite holiday and I’m loving all of the black and white monochrome vibes now so I had to try these little ghost pancakes. These were such a simple DIY toddler activity — I woke up this morning and decided on a whim to do it. I was able to prep it and make them all before Sofie’s morning hanger kicked in!
These little ghost pancakes were so simple to make and you don’t even need to have a steady hand to do it. I just grabbed a simple pancake recipe, plopped them on the griddle at 250, added some googley eyes and plastic spiders and bam! Spooky pancakes perfect for the holiday season.
Pancake Recipe
1 1/4 Cup Flour
1 1/2 Cup Milk
3 Tablespoons Butter Melted
1 Teaspoon salt
1 Tablespoon sugar
1 Egg
3 1/2 Teaspoons Baking Powder
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