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Abc letters for toddlers


How To Teach Toddlers The Alphabet (9 Effective Ways)

Teaching the alphabet is one of the first things that you will teach your child! 

 

It’s essential to know the alphabet, so toddlers/preschoolers can start recognizing letters and learning phonetics.

 

But teaching your kids the alphabet can be incredibly frustrating!

 

Trust me; I know first hand how challenging it can be! But I promise if you stick with it and work with your toddler every day, you will see progress!  Below you will see a video of my son working on his skills! 

 

 

Today, I’m sharing 9 ways to help teach the alphabet to your toddler!

 

#1.

Play With Alphabet Toys

 

Did you know that there are FOUR ways that people learn?  (Visual, auditory, reading/writing, and kinesthetic)

 

When children are exposed to alphabet toys like puzzles, magnetic letters, or foam letters, it is an excellent opportunity to begin teaching them.

 

Children can look at the letters, hear you say the name of the letter, and physically touch them, which almost hits all of the ways that we learn best (reading and writing will come at a later date for these kiddos).

 

I have used a variety of different alphabet toys with my kids to help them learn their letters at such a young age.

 

Here are FIVE alphabet toys that I recommend.

 

A. Melissa and Doug See-Inside Alphabet Puzzle

 

I can honestly say that my son learned his ABC’s with this puzzle!

 

At the time this short video was taken, he was 16 months old. Below you will find a video of how you can play with this toy to help your toddler learn! 

 

 

Check Price - Amazon

 

B. Melissa and Doug Alphabet Sound Puzzle

 

Do you have time to sit and play with your toddler all day?

 

Most likely, the answer is no, we all wish we could, but dishes need washing and laundry needs folded. This puzzle is fantastic because not only does it have the letters but it also makes the phonetic sound for each of the letters!

 

Check Price - Amazon

 

They can still be learning even when you are not right next to them!

 

It’s suitable for toddlers and preschoolers so they can start connecting the sounds that each letter makes.

 

C. Sesame Street Elmo’s On the Go Letters

 

Who doesn’t love Elmo?

Check Price - Amazon

 

This alphabet toy has the letters that children can manipulate and also includes some of their favorite Sesame Street characters inside once they lift the letter!

 

*TIP*  It is a little harder for younger ones to try to get the letters in and out, so you may need to be there to help them with this toy until they can pull them out themselves. 

 

D. LeapFrog Fridge Phonics Magnetic Letter Set

 

My husband collects magnets from everywhere we travel, and our kids can’t get enough of pulling them off of the refrigerator!

 

That’s why I knew this toy was going to be a hit for both my kids!

 

These magnets can stick to the refrigerator, which is fun and engaging for toddlers. It comes with a magnetic bus that kids can press the letter into, and it tells them what letter it is and the sound it makes.  

 

It also says words that begin with each letter and uses the word in a sentence, which is great for preschoolers or kindergartners, which makes this toy worthwhile since it can be used for a couple of years! 

 

Check Price - Amazon

 

E. Leapfrog My Own LeapTop

 

My FAVORITE on the go toy! I had to get two because both my kids wanted their own. 

 

I keep both of them in the car because it’s a fun toy for them to play with for a few minutes while we are in the car, and they get to be learning at the same time! 

 

There are four functions on the computer for kids to interact with (letters, messages, animal games, and music). You can also personalize the computer by adding your child’s name in it! 

Check Price - Amazon

 

#2. Repetition is Key!

 

Remember that time when you told your toddler something once, and they remembered it correctly, and you never had to say it to them again?

 

Yeah, me neither.

 

When you are trying to teach anyone something new, especially toddlers, repeating the information is crucial . Even though my son knows the alphabet, I still spend at least 10 minutes a day going over it with him, so he remembers the information.

 

It is engaging for your kids also to present the alphabet in different ways, so they don’t get bored with the same toy, which I will explain in the next section.

 

#3. Alphabet Learning Activities

 

There are so many creative and fun ways to help a child learn the alphabet! 

 

Does your child love blocks? Try writing the letters of the alphabet on the Mega Bloks to get them interested in learning them. Use a dry-erase marker, and it comes right off with a baby wipe! 

 

Does the child enjoy painting?  Paint letters on a piece of paper and ask the child which letter is which.  

 

Does the child like to play in the bathtub? Get foam letters that are made to go in the tub and review the letters when it’s bath time!

 

No matter what the child enjoys, you can use their interests as an opportunity to help them learn. 

 

I have an article that lists 21 PERFECT Alphabet Activities For Preschoolers, check out this article to learn about more activities that you can do! 

 

In the meantime, here are THREE easy activities you can use today!

A. Post-It Letter Activity

 

I think it’s easiest to do activities with supplies that you already have at home!

 

Write down an upper/lower case letter on each post-it note. Mix up the letters and ask your child to find a letter. Or, if they are really excited about pulling the post-it notes off the wall, when they pull them off, ask them what letter they have in their hands!

 

B. Do-A-Dot Painters

 

Who doesn’t love paint that doesn’t cause a mess?

 

Do-A-Dot Painters are so much fun, and the clean-up is so much easier than traditional painting.

 

 

All you need to do this activity is Do-A-Dot Painters and my FREE Do-A-Dot Letters

 

How to help your kids learn with this activity:

 

1.  For early learners, identify the letter to them. Have them try to look around the worksheet to see if they can see at least one or two matches to the letter you are working on. If they are struggling to use the Do-A-Dot painter on their own, try to help them by having them hold your hand while you both do it!

 

2. Older children should try to do this activity on their own. Ask them what letter it is that you are focusing on and have them try to use the Do-A-Dot painters on their own to see how many they can match correctly.

View Amazons Price

 

C. Sand Letter Search

This activity was a hit! Both kids continued to do this activity for a half-hour after they found the first round of letters!

 

You need kinetic sand and magnetic letters to do this activity.

  • The link for magnetic letters above has uppercase, lowercase, and numbers in the container, which I thought was the best deal because you could do this activity for each of these.

 

Ask your kids to search through the container of sand to find letters. They will love it because the sand feels SO cool! Once they find a letter, they can find it on the below worksheet that I created for you.

 

*CLICK HERE TO GET YOUR FREE UPPER CASE LETTER SEARCH WORKSHEET!*

 

#4. Begin With Uppercase Letters

 

I have noticed that almost all alphabet toys, learning videos, and books use uppercase letters.

 

Because of this, starting with uppercase letters is the best way to teach your child the alphabet!

 

Make sure before moving onto lower case letters that your child knows each uppercase letter. I promise it’ll make it easier for them to learn!

 

We have these uppercase and lowercase learning locks that are so much fun to play with and work on fine motor skills!

Check Price - Amazon

 

It can be confusing for kids to hear that a lowercase letter is the same as an uppercase letter, especially if they look nothing alike. It’s essential to help them with this activity, so you can explain that they are the same letter!

 

#5. Read Letter Books

 

Each night, we have a routine to at least read 2-3 books with our kids before bedtime.

 

Reading is crucial to a child’s development.

 

I don’t know about you, but I feel like each time I am at the pediatrician, they always ask me if I am reading to my kids. That shows me it’s pretty important!

 

There are SO MANY books to choose from out there that focus on the alphabet and letter recognition. It’s challenging to make a choice!

 

But here is a list of my kid’s favorites.

 

A. My Best Ever: ABC Alphabet Book

 

B. Chicka Chicka Boom Boom

 

C. LMNO Peas

 

D. Sesame Street: Elmo’s Word Book

  • This book is my favorite! It has flaps that kids can pick up to see pictures underneath, so it’s interactive, which makes it more memorable for them.

 

#6. Watch Educational Videos

 

Yes, I know you think I’m crazy for recommending screentime for toddlers!

 

We try to limit the amount of screen time that we have at our house.

 

But there are times when I have to change the laundry or clean up the giant mess created in the kitchen from painting. Utilizing an educational video for these times can be extremely helpful, and I don’t feel that guilty.

 

The current favorites at our house are Super Simple Songs, Bob the Train, or Little Baby Bum. These songs/shows are catchy, and they help aid in the learning process.

 

 

I’m not saying I allow my kids to watch hours of TV each day, but I do let them watch some.

 

#7. Focus On A Few Letters

 

Wow, I messed this step up when I was first teaching my kids the alphabet!

 

I started out showing them all the letters of the alphabet and trying to tell them all the letters at one time. I was wrong!

 

After realizing they weren’t picking up what I was trying to teach them, I tried focusing on only 2-3 letters a day.

 

This way, it wasn’t so overwhelming.

 

If you use one of the alphabet toys that I mentioned above or you have your own that works for you, start by showing them A, B, and C.

 

For a few days, go over just those letters then add two more to that list. Always go over the letters you began with as well to keep that repetition going!

 

#8. Don’t Overdo It

 

Have you ever tried to sit down and teach your toddler something, and all they want to do is play with other toys? 

 

This happens to all of us! Toddlers don’t have a very long attention span. There are times throughout the day that are better than others to try to teach them.

 

There will be times I attempt to work with both my son and daughter, and I can tell they are not interested whatsoever.

 

If you make them learn when they are not ready, they will not be eager to do it the next time. It’s better to wait until your kids are prepared to concentrate for a few minutes so you can get the most out of that time.

 

#9. Don’t Compare Your Child To Others.

 

Do you have friends on social media that brag about how their children are geniuses?

 

So many parents use social media as a place where they can brag how well their kids are doing at school and how smart they are!

 

It’s easy to compare what your child is doing with other children their age.

 

Every child has a unique learning process, and they will learn the information when they are ready!

 

There is no need to get frustrated or worried that the child is behind if they don’t know their alphabet at 16 months.

 

Take your time when you are teaching your child and stay positive with them! If you show them that you are frustrated, they will see your frustration and maybe not be as interested in learning.

 

Final Thoughts and Conclusion

 

My most important tips for teaching the alphabet are repetition and don’t get frustrated! If you follow these 9 ways to teach your child the alphabet, you are off to a great start on your child’s education!

 

I would love to help you on your journey to teaching your child the alphabet!

 

If you have any great ideas that you would like to share that helped you teach the letters of the alphabet to your child, please share them with us!

14+ Simple Activities to Teach Toddlers the Alphabet

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Learning the ABCs is the foundation of reading and writing and something that you’ll want to start teaching your child early on.

Teaching toddlers the alphabet can often seem like a daunting task because you’ll want to create a strong foundation to build on for higher level skills.

The last thing you want to do is make letter learning stressful or frustrating. The goal is not to have them just memorize the letters and spit them back out, but to interact and grow from what they are learning now.

When Should You Start Teaching Your Toddlers the Alphabet?

The good news is that little ones are like sponges and they love to learn!

Your toddler may begin to recite the alphabet from memory by learning the ABC song closer to 18 months old, but recognizing and identifying the actual letters is a skill that may come later on. 

You can start teaching toddlers the alphabet around age 2, but can even begin earlier than that.

Now that’s not to say that at two years old your child will know their whole alphabet. Two is simply the age that they can recognize a letter here and there.

Don’t overwhelm your child by showing them the entire alphabet at once. Work on one letter at a time and your toddler should pick it up quickly.

How to Teach Toddlers the Alphabet

Children typically start recognizing the letters in their own name first and then recognize all other letters after that.

Be sure to have your child look at both uppercase and lowercase letters when learning. Most children are taught all of the uppercase letters first, however, the lowers case letters are the ones that they will see more often when they read or see words.

Incorporating the Alphabet in Everyday Activities

One of the best things about teaching toddlers the alphabet is that you can include simple activities throughout the day. Some of my favorite ways to do this are:

Board Books

If you aren’t already, reading to your children is so important and great for development. Exposing them to books helps them start to recognize letters.

Any and all books provide so much benefit for recognizing letters as your child gets older, but board books with large letters are best for teaching toddlers the alphabet. This book allows your toddler to trace the letters with their fingers and lift-the-flap fun to help with letter learning.

ABC Toys

There are lots of different toys out there that help children learn their alphabet. Try finding toys like these letter matching puzzles that have your child match the shape of the letter.

Magnetic letters are also great. You can have them on the refrigerator so when you are cooking they can play with the letters. 

Related Post: 20 Important Things to Teach Your 2 Year Old

Name Learning Recognition

Writing your little one’s name out large on a piece of paper and going over each letter is a great way to help them recognize the letters in their name. You can have them trace the letters in different colors to make a “rainbow name” activity. 

These name puzzles from Bloom Owl are a great way to get your child learning the letters of their name. They’ll love playing with the puzzle as they start to recognize the letters they see all the time. 

Sing the ABC song

Singing the ABC song is a great way to help your toddler learn the sequence of the alphabet. When doing an activity like letter recognition, you can sing the song and point to the letter at the same time helping them to recognize the letter name with the letter shape.  

Workbooks and Printable Worksheets

Workbooks and worksheets are great tools to help children learn the alphabet and teach them what letters look like. Even if they aren’t quite able to trace yet, exposing them to the letters is still a great idea.

Letter Shows

By far the easiest resource for having your child learning letters and letter sounds is the Leap Frog shows on Netflix. They include Letter Factory, Phonics Farm, and more. If you have Netflix you can access these shows! My 20 month year old was reciting all of the letter sounds because he loves this show so much!

Games and Activities for Teaching the Alphabet

Since toddlers learn through play and exploration of their environment, they understand best when taking a hands-on approach to learning. Finding fun games and activities is a great way to teach toddlers the alphabet by making it an engaging learning experience.

Every child also has their own style when it comes to absorbing new information. Some children may learn best while jumping up and down, feeling objects with their fingers, or listening to a song.

Here are a few games and activities that incorporate sensory modalities to build on letter learning. They don’t involve actually writing letters, so they’re great for young toddlers as you teach them the alphabet.

Related Post: 31 Things That You Can Teach Your 3 Year Old

Alphabet Soup Via Busy Toddler

This activity is great for toddlers because it helps them to interact with letters and have fun. You can help them by asking them what letter they found and then associating the sound the letter makes.

Writing Let

ters with Shaving Cream Via A Gift of Curiosity

Writing letters with shaving cream is one of the ways my mom helped me learn letters as a child. I remember having so much fun writing with shaving cream.

ABC Hide and SeekVia Discovering Mommyhood

Bury some letters in rice (beans would work too!) and have your toddler find them. This is a great way to engage them with play and also help them learn to match up their letters. Another way you can change this up would be to have them match uppercase to lowercase and vice versa.

Feed the Alphabet MonsterVia I Can Teach My Child

Feed the alphabet monster is a fun and silly way to help teach toddlers the alphabet. You can leave the letters in order to start and then, later on, scramble them up. Another way to make this game a little more complex would be to have an uppercase and lowercase version of each letter.

Related Post: 10 Clever Ways to Teach Your Toddler How to Share

Sticky Alphabet TreeVia Toddler Approved

I love this game for teaching toddlers the alphabet! I think it is adorable and functional. You can help your toddler associate words with each letter like “A for apple” or “B for bear”. As they become more proficient, you can ask them to say a word that starts with the letter they picked up.

Dry Erase Letter Erasing

This is a multi-sensory activity using a dry erase board and dry erase marker or eraser to help your child learn to recognize letters. Tell them that you will tell them a letter to find. Then they must locate it on the board and erase it. This is great for little ones who don’t have control of writing actual strokes.

Teaching toddlers the alphabet doesn’t have to be complicated and learning through play is a great way to build a strong foundation for letter recognition. There are so many simple everyday activities that you can do to help them learn.

The best part is when you teach your older children the alphabet, they can help your younger children learn too!

I hope that you found some practical ways to incorporate teaching toddlers the alphabet in your everyday activities and some fun games to play!

Related posts:

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The Russian alphabet has become free! We decided to support our users who are now unable to pay for purchases. Learn letters and learn to read with pleasure!

CosmoPanda Alphabet for Kids is an educational app for preschoolers, a fun and exciting way to learn the alphabet, letters, spell words, learn to read and get ready for school.

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