Backward Day Name Spelling

January 31 Backward Day is a fun holiday for children to do things in reverse, like spelling a name backward, writing, or even wearing clothes backward!

Did you know that January 31st is Backward Day? Yes! How cool is it to have a day to do everything in reverse! For example, you can try reading backward, eating your meal starting with a dessert, walking backward (use caution), talking backward, or playing a game backward from the finish line to the start. Your imagination is the limit! To commemorate the day, Adrian, while wearing his sweater and a hat backward, is spelling his name using painted Haida sticks assembled as letters of his name A-D-R-I-A-N. The trick is, however, to spell his name backward!

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Decorating Haida Craft Sticks

This activity is very easy and fun. Besides, a child gets to use his/her imagination while decorating popsicle sticks (or any other craft sticks). American Indian Crafts Kids Can Do! book has a lot of fun craft ideas. So, today, we are using colorful markers (buy here) to decorate Haida sticks, which were used by Native Americans like we use playing cards. 

Haida people lived along the northwest coast of Alaska, and they were known for their wood carvings. Craftspeople carved cedar trees, and then painted their carvings with minerals mixed into mashed salmon eggs. Thus, Adrian was fascinated to learn that at some point, people did not have paints, crayons, markers or pencils readily available to them.

Besides, all you need is popsicle sticks and markers. You can also use colored pens or paints, or even make your own paint from food juice (like beats) or food coloring, just like Haida people did!

Once Adrian satisfied his creativity and finished decorating Haida sticks with markers, he assembled them to represent the letters of his names. Besides strengthening small muscles of the hands, this was a great language and alphabet letter recognition, as Adrian had to figure out how to make sticks to look like A-D-R-I-A-N. 

Children used glue, tape, and clothespins to hold the sticks together. 

NAME BACKWARD SPELLING

Furthermore, to commemorate the Backward Day, Adrian is spelling his name backwards! 

This simple craft-DIY craft triggers creativity while your child is crafting and decorating the sticks, as well as enhances language skills and letter recognition, and also promotes memorization of reverse sequential order. Most importantly, it is fun! 

“NAIRDA” is ADRIAN spelled backward!

Adrian also practiced spelling using Montessori Movable Alphabet: the words “Adrian, Julia, Love, Mama, Papa” but backword!

Adrian even wore his shirt, sweater, and a tie backward. 

Thus, Backward Day is a lot of fun for children (definitely for mine!) Have you done anything backward on January 31st? 

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WANT MORE FUN ACTIVITIES?

See HERE Rainbow Writing Name Recognition.

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Free Montessori Phonetical Sets Trace | Maze| Seek

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For More Name Recognition Ideas

See here Name Recognition Salt Painting.

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Other Name Recognition Activities

Picture this: your child’s face lights up with joy as they pick up a fallen leaf or a smooth pebble during an afternoon walk in the park. Now, imagine that simple find transforming into a fun and educational experience that not only enhances their fine motor skills but also takes them one step closer to writing their name. Welcome to the world of “Loose Finds Name Recognition.”

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For more Literacy Ideas …

See here Dyed Salt Writing Tracing Sensory Trays Montessori literacy.

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