Alphabet Box Letter R: Ideas of things starting with R

Here are ideas to inspire your ‘Letter R’ alphabet box. Alphabet Boxes can be a fun part of a toy rotation, sensory exploration, and language learning. Check out the main alphabet box article for how they work.

Letter R

e.g., letters that can be felt from an alphabet puzzle, sandpaper letters, etc.

2-piece jigsaw puzzle (one side is the letter, the other is a picture of something that starts with the letter)

People starting with R

e.g., Relative

Also, people in the child’s life that have a name starting with R (such as Ruth or Rick).

Animals starting with R

e.g., rabbit, rat, rattlesnake, robin, raccoon, reindeer, rhinoceros, rodent, rooster, raven, reptile, roadrunner, … ^{1, 5}

Also, if you have a dog (or somebody in the child’s environment does) whose breed has an R (such as a Rottweiler), you can use a photo of the dog and introduce the idea of different breeds. The same goes for other animals, e.g., pets, animals that you see frequently in your neighborhood, animals in books that are often read, or animals that your child has a special interest in.

Transportation starting with R

e.g., road, race car, railroad, rocket, roller coaster, … ⁵

Plants and food starting with R

(These are often more to show/ point out under supervision or use as part of a meal, e.g. because some are small and thus a choking hazard in their natural form, or because they make a mess; but sometimes there are toy versions).

e.g., radish, raisin, raspberry, ratatouille, ravioli, rhubarb, ribs, rice, ricotta cheese, rolls, rosemary, roulade, rye, rose, ramps, rutabaga, radicchio, romanesco, rocket, rockmelon, …^2,3,5

Clothes starting with R

e.g., raincoat, ring, romper, rubber boots, riding pants, …^{4, 5, 7}

Shapes starting with R

e.g., rhombus

Toy tools starting with R

e.g., rotary saw, rake, rasp, ruler, …⁶

Musical instruments starting with R

e.g. recorder, rainstick, … ⁵

Body parts starting with R

e.g., ribs, right arm/leg/…., roots (hair), retina, … ⁵

Things from around the house starting with R

(Not all of them are suitable/safe to be put into a box. Some are just to point out.)

e.g., rack, radiator, rag, ramp, recycling bin, refrigerator, rice cooker, remote, ribbon, rocking chair, rolling pin, roof, rope, room, rubbish, rug, rubberband, Roomba, router, … ^{5, 6}

Colors starting with R

e.g., red, …

Other toys with R

e.g., ragdoll, rattle, rocking horse (or whatever other animal/thing), rainbow, robot, roller skates, …. ^5,1.

Other ideas for R

e.g., reward, … ⁵

Using a picture or pointing it out outside: e.g., rain, rock, river, … ^{5. 6}.

References
1 Animals that start with R https://a-z-animals.com/animals/animals-that-start-with-r/ (last checked Nov 19, 2023)
2 The Spruce. Plants A to Z. https://www.thespruce.com/plants-a-to-z-5116344 (last checked Nov 17, 2023)
3 The Food Coach. Healthy Food Database. https://www.thefoodcoach.com.au/food/?Alpha=R (last checked Nov 19, 2023)
4 Desment, L. (2022) Clothing That Starts With Each Letter: 291 Garments from A to Z https://wisforwebsite.com/clothing-that-starts-with/ (last checked Nov 17, 2023)
5 Inspire the mom. 100+ objects that start with R. https://www.inspirethemom.com/100-objects-that-start-with-R/ (last checked Nov 17, 2023)
6 Word Schools. List Of Tools That Start With A To Z – Tools Vocabulary https://wordschools.com/tools-that-start-with-a-to-z/(last checked Nov 17, 2023)
7 Enchanted Learning. Clothes vocabulary list https://www.enchantedlearning.com/wordlist/clothes.shtml (last checked Nov 17, 2023)