Favorite Toys to Encourage Literacy

So your little one can't read yet? And their attention span is only so long when it comes to reading stories together? I feel ya! Here are my little reader's favorite literacy-related toys at the moment:

• Foam bath letters (and numbers). He thinks it's hilarious when I hold each letter up and make its sound for him. 

• Wooden letter blocks. I like to tell him words that each letter starts with as we stack them up in towers and then knock them down! Having an assortment of types of blocks also helps with the "a" is an "a" is an "a" concept as they get older.

• Fun flash cards. These were a Christmas gift from Gramma. I don't sit Isaac down and drill him with the flash cards. Instead, we just play with them. He likes to look at the pictures on them and throw them around when he's in his high chair.

• Touch and feel books. O.K. so this is a book, but it's kind of a toy too. My son loves them!! 

• Puppets. Great for encouraging language development. Stick one on your arm and make 'em talk, talk, talk!