Mirror Erase Activity: A Fun and Simple Way to Practice Letters at Home

The Magic of a Mirror (Beyond Checking for Snack Crumbs)

If you have a toddler, chances are they already love making faces in the mirror. But did you know that a floor-length mirror can be a secret weapon for fun and simple at-home learning? Enter the mirror erase activity—an easy, engaging way to boost letter recognition, color recognition, and even shape learning with nothing more than a dry-erase marker and a little elbow grease.

This kids activity is part of my ongoing mission to prove that the best learning activities don’t require a trip to the craft store. If you have a mirror, a marker, and a child with energy to burn, you’re ready to go!

Why You’ll Love This Mirror Activity

1. Minimal prep, maximum fun – No cutting, gluing, or setting up an elaborate sensory bin.
2. A mess-free way to practice alphabet recognition – Dry-erase markers wipe right off, making cleanup a breeze.
3. A fantastic activity at home – Perfect for rainy days or when you just need five minutes to drink your coffee.
4. Customizable for all skill levels – Start with letters, then level up with sight words, colors, or shapes.
5. Encourages movement – Your child gets to hop, squat, and stretch while learning.

What You Need

• A floor-length mirror (or any large mirror)
• A dry-erase marker (or window marker for extra bright colors)
• A small cloth, tissue, or dry-erase eraser

How to Do the Mirror Erase Activity

1. Write on the mirror – Scatter letters across the mirror using your dry-erase marker. No need for a perfect grid—spread them out to make it more engaging.
2. Call out a letter – Ask your child to find that letter on the mirror.
3. Erase it! – Once they spot the letter, they use their cloth or tissue to wipe it away.
4. Repeat until the mirror is clean – Keep going until all the letters are erased (or until attention spans run out!).

Ways to Extend the Fun

• Make it a shape activity – Instead of letters, draw different shapes for your child to find and erase.
• Try color recognition – Write color words in their matching color and have your child erase the one you call out.
• Level up to sight words – For older kids, swap letters for simple sight words to practice reading skills.
• Turn it into a race – Use a timer to see how fast they can erase all the letters you call out.
• Let them be the teacher – Have your child call out letters for YOU to erase (bonus: they get some sneaky practice saying letter names).

Quick Clean-Up Tips

• Use a dry-erase eraser or microfiber cloth to wipe off any lingering marker residue.
• If needed, a spritz of glass cleaner will get the mirror sparkling again.
• Store the dry-erase markers somewhere high if you’d rather not discover unexpected wall art later.

MORE ACTIVITIES USING A MIRROR

If your child enjoyed this activity with a mirror, be sure to check out these other engaging and creative ideas!

1. Mirror Cloud Painting: Squirt white and blue washable paint onto a mirror, then let your child swirl and mix it with their fingers or a brush to create fluffy clouds while exploring reflection and texture.
2. Mirror Shape Find and Color: Tape various paper shapes onto a mirror, then provide dry-erase markers for your child to trace, color in, or match with corresponding cutout shapes.
3. Mirror Measurement: Have your child use different objects (blocks, toy animals, or measuring tape) to measure their reflection in the mirror. Compare the sizes of real objects versus their reflections, sparking discussions about symmetry and perspective.

Final Thoughts

The mirror erase activity is proof that learning activities don’t have to be complicated to be effective. It’s simple, engaging, and best of all—uses something you already have at home. So grab a marker, find a mirror, and let the learning (and erasing) begin!

What other random household objects should we turn into a fun kids learning activity next?

Full Length Mirror

Expo Dry Erase Markers