LETTER H and Helping Hands
This week we are learning the letter H, and our theme is something that children naturally understand through lived experience: Helping Hands. Whether it’s holding the door, cleaning up toys, comforting a friend, or feeding a family pet, preschoolers love opportunities to help. Helping empowers children, builds confidence, and strengthens their sense of belonging within their community.
As we talk about helping hands inside our classroom, we also begin noticing the helping hands all around our community. Children are naturally curious about the people who keep our neighborhoods safe, cared for, and running smoothly. Community helpers—firefighters, nurses, sanitation workers, teachers, grocery workers, bus drivers, and so many others—show children what it looks like to use helping hands in big and small ways every day.
In class, we may read books about community helpers or role-play the jobs they do. Children love pretending to drive a bus, bandage a teddy bear, sweep a sidewalk, or answer an imaginary emergency call. These playful moments help children understand that helping isn’t just something we do—it’s a way of being part of a community.
At home, you might point out community helpers you see as you go about your day or talk with your child about someone who helped your family recently. Even a simple conversation like, “Who helps our community?” can spark rich thinking and gratitude. Helping hands remind us that each of us—no matter our age—has a role in caring for one another.
Letter Sounds and Our Zoo-Phonics Friend
Our Zoo-Phonics friend for H is Honey Horse. Children pretend to gallop gently while making the soft /h/ sound: “h-h-h.” It’s a whispered sound—like warm air on a cold window—which makes it fun for children to practice.
We listen for H in words such as help, hand, happy, heart, and home. For extra reinforcement at home, this gentle letter H song introduces the sound in a child-friendly way: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KxXULJpT9a8
How We Form the Letter H
Using Learning Without Tears, uppercase H is introduced as “big line down, big line down, little line across.” Lowercase h is “big line down, up halfway, then curve over.” Practicing these shapes in sensory trays or with chalk outdoors makes letter formation more intuitive and enjoyable.
Families interested in extra handwriting ideas can explore Learning Without Tears resources here: https://www.lwtears.com/resources
Theme Connection: Helping Hands
Children love hearing that their contributions matter. Throughout the week, we may invite children to be “classroom helpers”—water bottle carriers, table wipers, plant waterers, or book organizers. These small responsibilities help children understand that helping is an important part of being in community.
We also read stories like The Little Red Hen or Kindness is My Superpower, which show different ways people help one another.
At home, you might explore simple moments of helping—setting the table, matching socks, caring for a pet, or holding a younger sibling’s hand. The website Doing Good Together has lovely suggestions for nurturing kindness at home: https://www.doinggoodtogether.org
Kindergarten Readiness Skill: Cooperation (WaKIDS/GOLD Objective 2b)
This week’s readiness skill highlights cooperation—working with others toward a shared goal. Whether children are building a tower together, cleaning up a space, or negotiating turns, they are practicing foundational social-emotional skills.
Cooperation encourages patience, communication, and empathy. At home, you might try a simple cooperative activity like building a puzzle together or cooking a snack side-by-side.
Continuing the Learning at Home
Letter H appears in almost every part of daily life—home, hug, hat, hungry, and even hello. You might listen for H words together throughout the day or draw “helping hands” by tracing your child’s hands on paper and writing one thing they can do to help on each finger.
Every small act of helping reminds children that they are capable, valued contributors to their world.
Letter H appears in almost every part of daily life—home, hug, hat, hungry, and even hello. You might listen for H words together throughout the day or draw “helping hands” by tracing your child’s hands on paper and writing one thing they can do to help on each finger. Every small act of helping reminds children that they are capable, valued contributors to their world.
