1. What's in a Name?
Teaching your child the alphabet while he's in kindergarten can prepare him for reading lessons in the first grade. Many children can learn the alphabet well before this deadline, however, so you can start earlier as long as you don't exert too much pressure. Begin with the letters in your child's name. Children see their names repeatedly, so it usually doesn't take long for them to learn to recognize it among other words. Call out each letter whenever you write it. Only use capital letters in the beginning, because these are the easiest for a child to differentiate. Encourage your child to copy his name and call out the letters as well. Don't be surprised when your child's first attempts to write his name barely resemble the actual word. With practice, he will develop the motor skills to write his name legibly.
2. Sing The Alphabet Song
Many children can learn to sing part, if not all, of the alphabet song by the age of 3 years. You can buy CDs, DVDs and toys that play this song to teach the letters and the melody. Link the names of the letters to their visual representations to make them sink in. Otherwise, the song is just fun to sing, but it won't have any meaning. As you participate with your child, point to the letters you are singing. Encourage your child to point out the letters as she learns them.
3. Make the Alphabet Fun
Alphabet books, magnets, blocks, puzzles, rugs and bath toys are just some of the things you can buy to engage your child in letter learning play and reading. You also create your own alphabet games to play such as designating each day for one letter. On "S Day," for example, you and your child should point out everything you see with the letter "S," whether it be in books, on television, on street signs, on truck logos or anywhere else in your environment. On the same day, you could serve a lunch of things that begin only with the letter "S" like a sandwich, strawberries or spaghetti. Use your creativity to find different ways to integrate letters into different contexts.
