The alphabet song is typically one of the first songs a young child sings. The song offers an introduction to the alphabet, but truly learning the letters goes beyond reciting them. Helping your child learn the alphabet includes many types of activities. The goal is to expose your children to the letters frequently to help them gain familiarity with both the shape and sound. Teaching your child the alphabet doesn't take a lot of expensive materials.
Step 1
Hang the letters of the alphabet in your child's bedroom so she sees them daily. Point to each letter as you sing the alphabet song so she starts to connect the letters with the shapes.
Step 2
Read to your child on a daily basis. Point out individual letters on the page to help him identify them and connect letters to sounds and words. Many alphabet books are available for a more direct connection to the letters.
Step 3
Point out letters on signs, at the grocery store and other locations in the environment. Ask your child to name the letter and review the sound that it makes. For more advanced alphabet learners, name a letter and have your child find it on a sign.
Step 4
Pour salt or sand into a shallow pan. Help your child write the letters of the alphabet in the sand.
Step 5
Dip letter-shaped cookie cutters in tempera paint and press them onto a piece of paper. Let your child paint or color inside the outline to reinforce recognition of the letter shapes.
Step 6
Focus on a few letters at a time so your child can master them. Do activities with your child that relate to the letter. For example, if you're working on the letter "A," you might make applesauce or make animal pictures. This helps your child learn the sounds associated with each letter.
Step 7
Write your child's name and display it where she can see the letters. Practice saying the names of the letters on a regular basis to help her learn them. The personal connection to the letters may encourage her to learn them faster.
Step 8
Purchase letter magnets or tiles for your child to play with. Point out the letters and say the names to reinforce the concept.
