Or it may be that a child needs to be exposed to the alphabet more. But for some kids, not knowing the alphabet could be a sign of a deeper issue with language. Some kids learn and think differently, and those differences can cause challenges with language. This includes a common learning difference called dyslexia. Learn about signs of dyslexia at different ages. The best way to help kids learn the alphabet is to have them experience books and language in a fun way.
Instead, check out the local thrift store or library. Or talk to family and friends with older kids to see if they have books to pass down. Read to kids. Try alphabet books like Dr. Play letter scavenger hunts. Ask kids to find things that begin with a certain letter, like finding a book for the letter b.
Play alphabet games. Name as many animals as you can that start with the letter d , for example. Make ABC art. Have kids create ABCs with clay or play-dough — or even write letters using crayons. They can also try writing letters in sand or shaving cream.
If a child you know is struggling with the alphabet, there are ways to help. Families and educators should connect and share what they see. Together, they can dive deeper into what might be causing the trouble and make an action plan. Learn more about trouble with reading and how reading skills develop from birth through grade school. More on: Reading and writing. Share When do kids know the alphabet? Podcast Wunder community app.
Main menu Our work Blog Surveys and research. Join our team Privacy policy Terms of use Fundraising disclosure Sitemap. At a Glance Knowing the alphabet is a key skill for learning to read. Most kids know the alphabet by the time they start kindergarten. Some kids need extra time and practice to learn their ABCs. Start with a smaller set of matching pairs if the entire alphabet is overwhelming. Write a letter on a large dry-erase board, easel, or on a foggy window.
Using large muscle movements to make letter shapes can help children remember letter forms. Talk through the features of the letter for clues. Then swap roles. Use items found outdoors—sticks, rocks, leaves, flowers, acorns, or shells— to make letter shapes. For extra credit, photograph each shape and create a unique ABC book or wall display. Show children how to place items along the letter lines, moving in the same direction as if they were writing the letter.
When the letters dry and disappear, repeat. Bonus: this simple activity is also very soothing! Use Play-Doh or mix up some homemade bread or pretzel dough. Show kids how to roll dough into snakes, and then how to use make snakes into letters. Give a child a stack of Sticky Notes and ask them to label items around the room with the letter that starts the name of that item. Strategically suggest items that have a distinct, keyword -beginning sound, like T for table , L for light , R for rug , B for book , D for door , etc.
Alphabet-themed activities like songs, puzzles, books, and games involve the entire alphabet. General exposure is great for kids, but learning all 26 letters of the English alphabet and their corresponding sounds can take a while, especially without the crutch of alphabetical order.
Often, the letter symbols that preschool kids learn to identify first are the ones that start their names. Researchers sometimes call this the own-name effect. Young kiddos often start to recognize the letters in high-frequency words like LOVE , or print they encounter in everyday life called environmental print , such as in snack packaging or signs they see often, too.
When homing in on one letter at a time for direct teaching about sound-symbol correspondence, familiarity and utility trump alphabetical order. High-quality elementary phonics curricula approach teaching letters and sounds in, as many educators refer it, an explicit and systematic way; they give straightforward explanations instead of having kids guess, and they move forward in an intentional sequence, usually teaching high-use consonants like T , B , F , N and M first.
When kids know a few consonant sounds and a short vowel sound such as A , they can begin to spell and read words, like tab , bat , and fan. Many literacy programs call these associated words keywords. Also check a word for familiarity. Blaming your own chicken scratch penmanship is no excuse here. Refresh your memory on the correct formations of letters before trying to teach a kid to write them. If a child uses a specific handwriting curriculum at school, use the same terms outside of school.
Most programs refer to the components of letters with certain vocabulary e. Rather than drawing letters as an artistic endeavor, the goal is for kids to write letters the same way every time, starting at the top and using consistent strokes. Writing letters can be hard work in the beginning. Setting the pencil aside and doing activities that ask kids to build letter shapes is invaluable, especially in preschool.
Many of the activities below are great for this. Be consistent in your messaging about letter shapes and sounds and offer tons opportunities for repetition. Need even more activity ideas? Many of these sight word practice activities are easily adaptable to practicing individual letters. Lindsay Barrett is a teacher and literacy consultant. She writes resources for educators and parents. Find out more about her work at lindsay-barrett. Feedback See Today's Synonym.
Word of the Day. Meanings Meanings. Phonics vs. Alphabet soup Put magnetic letters, letter puzzle pieces, or foam letters into a big bowl. Letter treasure hunt Hide magnetic letters in a tray of wet sand, Kinetic Sand, Play-Doh, or other similar material. Object match Gather up a collection of household items that begin with different letter sounds.
Object sort Extend the object match game by collecting groups of items that begin with the same letter. Letter hunt Ask children to hunt for one or two specific letters around the house or neighborhood. Personalized ABC book Photograph items and people around your home or neighborhood to create a personalized digital or printed ABC book.
Letter collage Give kids a stack of magazines or newspapers and have them cut out letters to make a collage. Game This classroom favorite is worth the five minutes it takes to make. Alphabet four-corner tag Mark each corner area of a safe indoor space with a different letter, or mark and label a play space outdoors with chalk or cones. Uppercase and lowercase match Write the uppercase and lowercase forms for each letter on an index card.
Letter formation activities Sky writing Write a letter on a large dry-erase board, easel, or on a foggy window. Letters in the dirt Get back to basics! Grab a pointy stick and practice writing letters on the ground.
Nature letters Use items found outdoors—sticks, rocks, leaves, flowers, acorns, or shells— to make letter shapes. Dough letters Use Play-Doh or mix up some homemade bread or pretzel dough.
Household labeling Give a child a stack of Sticky Notes and ask them to label items around the room with the letter that starts the name of that item. Should kids learn letter symbols and sounds in a certain order?
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