(Family Features) If you’re searching for ways to get little ones excited about learning, try combining fun and function, using food as your teaching tool. Foods that come in letter shapes are a great way to introduce young learners to the alphabet and make learning delightfully F-U-N.

Although it may contradict the popular mealtime mantra to “quit playing with your food,” teaching children to recognize letters using a familiar food, such as cereal, can actually be a great way to promote literacy and a love of reading early on.

You can get started promoting the joys of learning with these “snacktivities” to make snack time as entertaining as it is educational for your littlest family members. Use a nutrient rich cereal, such as Post Alpha-Bits, so when letters start disappearing into those tiny tummies, you can feel good knowing each serving provides 12 of the essential vitamins and minerals growing kids need.

Family tree
Draw a big tree with lots of branches on construction paper. After the tree is drawn, write out each family member’s name on the branches with colorful markers. Encourage your little ones to match the letters you have written with letters from the Alpha-Bits box. Let them glue the cereal pieces to the tree so you can display their works of art on the refrigerator.

Vowel play
Give your little one a one-cup serving of Post Alpha-Bits and ask them to eat all of the consonants and leave only the vowels. They’ll learn their letters a little better and get 20 grams of whole grains along the way.

For more great recipes your family will love, visit www.postfoods.com.

ABC Crispy Bars

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup (1/2 stick) butter or margarine
• 1 package (10.5 ounces) miniature marshmallows
• 8 cups Post Alpha-Bits Cereal
• Alphabet-shaped cookie cutters

Preparation

1. Line 13-by-9-inch pan with foil; lightly grease foil.
2. Microwave butter in large microwavable bowl on high for 45 seconds or until melted. Add marshmallows and mix well.
3. Microwave on high for 1 1/2 minutes or until marshmallows are completely melted and mixture is well blended, stirring after 45 seconds.
4. Stir in cereal.
5. Press cereal mixture firmly into prepared pan. Cool.
6. Using the alphabet-shaped cookie cutters, cut cereal mixture into 12-15 pieces.
7. Store in airtight container at room temperature.

Sponsored by Post Foods