Ten Tips For Teaching Children the Alphabet

Learning the alphabet is a pre-requisite for many of the literacy skills required to learn to read. Without a firm knowledge of letters, children could have difficulty with all other aspects of early literacy.

However the most important thing to remember about teaching your child the alphabet is to keep it fun. Making it a regular activity will help to reinforce the learning.

1. Sing The Alphabet Song

Before teaching your child what letters look like, first teach them the letter names with the alphabet song. Once your child knows the song use an alphabet book or write out the letters and point to them as you sing. This will help your child to understand that the letter names match the printed letters. Next hold your child’s hand and help them to point their finger to the letters as you sing. Then have the child point to the letters on their own as you sing together.

2. Try finger painting

Children may find it easier to paint with their fingers rather than holding a pen or paintbrush. Kids love messy play and it can be educational too. Get them to paint the alphabet letters suing their fingers.

3. Letters of their Name

Often the first letters children learn are the letters of their name. Start by just saying aloud the spelling of their name. Create a name plate for their room or a name badge for their coat peg. Children will soon start to recognize their name.

4. Create a collage/scrap book

Choose a letter and write it on the top corner of a scrap book page. Then using old magazines help your child to cut out any pictures of things that start with that letter.

5. TV

Although TV should not be used excessively as a medium for helping children learn it can be a useful resource and present letter learning in a whole new way. There are lots of educational children’s programmes to choose from.

6. Hunt the Letter Game

Pick a letter for your letter hunt. Then go around the house, or the shop, or wherever you are, and find the letter you are looking for in as many places as you can e.g. product packaging, road signs, books etc. Or look for objects that start with that letter sound. If you are at home you can collect the things together. As kids get used to this try introducing a random object and see if they can spot the object that doesn’t begin with that letter.

7. Get crafty

Draw a letter which has an outline. Spread glue inside the outlines and have your child stick sequins, buttons, glitter or dried pulses to make the letter shape.

8. Autumn fun

Collect dried leaves in the garden or park and make huge letter shapes with them. Don’t do this on a windy day though!

9. Label things around the House

Place labels on common objects around the house. Whenever you come across the object e.g. washing machine show the label and state the beginning letter.

10. Use magnetic letters or foam letters in the bath tub

Play with magnetic letters and stick them on the refrigerator, see if your child can be the fastest to find each letter of the alphabet. Foam letters can also be used in the bath.

Jeanette McLeod
http://wizz-e.com
Bringing the Magic of Books to Life for young children – interactive multi-media picture books to make learning to read fun.

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