How to Teach the Alphabet to Preschoolers
Jan 15, 2022 When teaching the alphabet, it’s important to remember that before this age, most kids won’t be able to understand the difference in letters, so try not to get frustrated if it seems like your child can’t grasp the concept right away!
Many parents aren’t sure how to teach children the alphabet. When teaching the alphabet, it’s always good to start with “name letters.” This means if the child’s name is “Sammy,” you should start with the letters, S, A, M, and Y. These are important to teach first because they hold special meaning to your child, and will be easier to remember. Once they understand the letters in their names, I suggest teaching the alphabet in this order:
- S, A, T, I, P, N
- C, K ,E, H, R
- M, D, G, O
- L, F, B, Q, U
- J, Z, W
- V, Y, Z
Another way to start teaching letters is to start with lowercase letters. It’s obviously important that children learn how to write both upper and lowercase letters, but most of the print that they will see in books and in everyday life are lowercase, it’s easier to start with that!
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Why does the letter order matter?“ l ”
So why that letter order? Being a speech therapist in a school district and also through working with Early Intervention clients, I’ve seen several different phonics programs. This order is specific to the Jolly Phonics Program, although most programs are very similar.
I found this great system of learning the alphabet at “How Wee Learn”:
“By teaching letters in this manner, children can begin forming words very quickly. After learning the first six letters, kids can make words in the “at,” “an,” “it,” “ip,” “ap,” and “in” families.
Introducing letters and letting little ones begin to make words almost right away creates a huge sense of pride. And since you waited to introduce the letters (you did wait, right?), they are absolutely ready and will catch on right away, grasping those letter names and sounds easily.
If not, perhaps wait a little longer. I know it is hard (trust me I know!), but waiting until your little one is ready will save you both mounds of frustration, and ensure your little one loves learning. There is no rush.”
Some Alphabet Games and Activities to Help with Learning Letters
Here are some great resources for you to use when trying to teach your toddler their alphabet.
- Try Reading Blubs! In our new learn-to-read app there are hands-on activities within the app to learn, write, and speak the names of the letters within the context of some fun stories!
- Educational learning bins – This website gives you a year’s worth of educational learning bin ideas to get your child exposed to different letters.
- Flying into our letters – Here’s a great activity that uses painters tape and construction paper. Pop that first group of alphabet letters (s, a, t, i, p, n) on the ground using painter’s tape and let that little one use paper airplanes to learn his ABCs!
- Swat the ABC balloons – We love using balloons for fun learning games. This alphabet activity is absolutely perfect for preschoolers as it engages the whole body. And we all know 3-year-olds LOVE to learn with their whole body.
- Zoom and sort the ABCs – just painter’s tape and some toy cars are all you need for this one. Uses painter’s tape in a different way to form the road while the cars hold the letters. This letter activity is great for introducing capital and lowercase letters.
- Reusable paper chain letter games – use construction paper a lot to make simple paper chains. I like to add velcro to make these chains reusable again and again. Little words can be built and played with all day long.
- Mail Play – Mailing friends their “name letters” is a great way to practice letter recognition! Matching letters of the alphabet is a great place to start with letter recognition. First, kids recognize which letters match, then they practice forming the letters from a sample, and finally, they produce it on their own. The order for teaching letters can be the same for all of these steps.
- Dinosaur excavating our ABCs – magnetic alphabet letters can be used for so many learning activities, like this fun dinosaur letter excavation.
Get started right away!
Now that you are armed with some fun games, have an idea about the order for teaching letters, and have waited for your little one to be ready – it is time to let them learn those letters!
Have fun with this big step, maybe even sing the alphabet song with your little ones. And remember, slow is always better. Follow your child’s lead and keep it light and fun. This is the beginning of a lifetime of learning and a love of reading.
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