According to the Office of Head Start, children who start kindergarten knowing some of their letters are more successful learning how to read than those who go to kindergarten without this knowledge. Children as young as two can begin to learn letter names and sing songs, while older children will enjoy pre-writing and phonics activities. Many of these activities are perfect for bad weather days and will keep a child happily entertained while they learn.
Learn Letters Through The Senses
Step 1
Read alphabet books with your child. Your librarian can recommend good alphabet books that will keep your child engaged. Read the letter on each page, then ask your child to name the pictures that accompany that letter. Point out that each picture begins with the letter on that page, and emphasize the sound of the letter.
Sing the alphabet song with your child. When your child knows most or all of the song, ask her to predict which letter comes next when you read alphabet books.
Step 2
Place an 8 ½ inch by 11 inch letter card in the bottom of a shallow, plastic bin or foil tray. Bury the card in about an inch of flour, cornmeal, rice or sand. Invite your child to feel the substance and find the hidden letter. When he has explored the tray, cover the letter again and ask him to identify it and trace it with his finger.
Step 3
Put several magnetic letters in an opaque bag. Ask your child to find a specific letter using only her sense of touch. As her skills grow, you can put more letters in the bag to increase the challenge. Alternatively, put only one letter in the bag and ask her to tell you which letter it is.
Step 4
Use letter magnets on the refrigerator or another magnetic surface to match and sequence letters or spell simple words. For example, set up four letters and ask your child to hand you the "A" or the letter that begins the word "apple." Give your child a letter card and ask her to find the matching magnetic letter.
Set the letters in alphabetical order, then remove a few letters leaving gaps in the sequence. Ask your child to replace the letters in their proper order.
Spell simple words such as "top" or "cat" with the magnetic letters. Remove the first letter of the word and ask your child to replace it with another letter to make a new word.
Step 5
Make an alphabet book with your child. On each page, write a large letter. Let your child trace and decorate the letter with crayons, then give him scissors and old magazines and encourage him to find and cut out pictures that begin with that letter. Glue the pictures to the letter page.
Save his letter pages. When the entire alphabet is complete, staple the pages together or put them in a binder to create a customized alphabet book.
Tips and Warnings
- Keep learning fun. Let your child play with the letters and sounds they are learning.
- Do not push your child to memorize letters. Young children learn best through play experiences, not memorization.
Things You'll Need
- Alphabet books
- 8 ½ inch by 11 inch letter cards
- Foil baking tray or shallow plastic bin
- Sand, flour, cornmeal, or rice
- Plastic or wooden magnetic letters
- Opaque shopping or lunch bag
- Magnetic surface
- Paper
- Crayons
- Old magazines
- Safety scissors
- Glue or paste
- Stapler or binder
