Teaching abc for toddlers

5 Easy ways to teach the alphabet to preschoolers | Daycare Blog

Teaching children the alphabet is foundational to learning how to read. Before children can put together sounds or draw together lines that make words, they need to know what they are. If you’ve never taught the alphabet before, the concept may sound abstract: how do you teach something that comes so naturally to you? Teaching letters can be really fun and simple. In this article, we’ll give you easy ways to teach the alphabet to preschoolers.

1) Sing alphabet songs

Obviously, we all know the English-language, “A-B-C-D, E-F-G,” song. That’s a great place to start. However, there are more alphabet songs, which can add variety to your tunes, and help kids learn the alphabet in different ways.

This article lists a whole bunch of alphabet songs to try. And, if you saw our article on YouTube channels for toddlers and preschoolers, you can find letter-related songs there too. The visuals in videos can show objects that start with each letter, and sometimes the songs also pronounce sounds too.

One important note brought up by this early childhood educator, is that kids should go from singing the song, to being able to say and point out the letters without a tune. So don’t stop at singing!

2) Play letter matching games

Letter matching games are easy to set up. You can have a poster board with the alphabet printed on it in large letters. Have separate letter magnets or paper letters cut out at the same size as the print letters. Ask the preschoolers to match their cut outs to the letters on the chart. Where does “A” go? Place the letter “A” cut out on top of the printed “A” on the poster board. Get them to practice doing this with all the other letters.

As the early childhood educator mentioned above noted, you can also have an alphabet ‘arc,’ where one end of a half-circle shows the letter “A”, and the other end the letter “Z”. In between you can have other letters in the alphabet shown, but not all of them. Ask the preschoolers to put down their block letters in the right sequence, using the pre-filled in letters as clues.

3) Open a new ‘alphabet box’ each week

You may have seen us post on Facebook that a certain week is brought to you by a letter we’re covering. It may be “C,” and you’ll see photos of us painting the letter C at daycare, or learning about animals that start with the letter “C.” Weekly letter themes are common in preschools.

You can take your weekly letter curriculum a step further by creating a box that children can open to discover objects that relate to that letter.

For example, on the week covering the letter “A,” your preschoolers can open (or even unlock) a box that contains an apple, a toy airplane, a toy alligator, an acorn, an arrow (a safe one!), and so on. In fact, don’t tell the children right away what letter the box of ‘treasures’ represents. Ask them if they can guess the letter they’ll cover that week by observing the objects in the box alone. This can be a fun and whimsical way to have your children get excited about the week ahead, and work together to come up with an answer.

3) Use interdisciplinary learning with each letter, to strengthen letter associations

Since repeating a letter over and over again can get boring, you can mix it up a little by bringing in related lessons. You can start with a week’s letter as your core subject. Then, throughout the day, teach interdisciplinary subjects that still relate.

For example, if you are on the letter “R,” you can learn about the colour “red” too, since it starts with “R.” Ask the children, ‘what things are red?’ If you are on the letter “A,” you can learn about apples. We’ve done this before, where we teach children about the types of apples there are, as well as explain that seeds are inside an apple, and so on.

This blogger lists a whole bunch of crafts you can you incorporate into your letter learning. For example, you can make holes with a hole punch for the letter “H.” This can then lead into learning about the circle shape. You get the idea…

4) If you use flashcards to teach the alphabet, use logical ones

Flashcards are a great memorization tool, and the alphabet is all about memorizing. However, this teacher warns that sometimes, pre-made flashcards can get really confusing. If you are teaching the letter “D” and there is an image of something that simply uses the sound of “D” somewhere in the word, but doesn’t start with “D”… well you can quickly see how even adults would be confused by that.

Remember, at this stage, you’re not teaching phonetics or complex vocabulary and pronunciation. First, children need to recognize and know the alphabet. Use the simplest flash cards, with the simplest pictures of the objects and animals that preschoolers can recognize.

That said, sometimes you want to use lowercase and uppercase letters in your flashcards…and yes, that can be confusing for the very young learners, especially when the upper and lowercase look so different, but are called the same thing. But if you’re using a set of magnets, for example, you can just use their uppercase versions, that’s ok (they may only come in that form). For very early learners, you can start really basic. Just don’t forget to start showing them the lowercase and uppercase letters together at some point in their alphabet learning journey.

5) Eat foods shaped like letters to help preschoolers learn their alphabet

Speaking of interdisciplinary alphabet learning, why not do a baking session with the kids at preschool? They can use letter-shaped cookie cutters to make a fun and yummy snack. Meanwhile, there is a host of lessons you can teach with the baking activity. Chemistry, cooking, nutrition…the list goes on.

If you want the easy route, try commercially-sold letter-shaped biscuits. IKEA has a version of these. Ask your toddler or preschooler to name the alphabet letter they’re about to eat. Eating it can be the reward for getting it right!

And of course, there is alphabet soup, or noodles shaped like letters. You can make mealtime fun, and educational, with these edible alphabet manipulatives.

So there you have it, 5 easy ways to teach the alphabet to preschoolers. They may even be fun for you, too! It is super cute to hear little ones pronounce letters, and guess what object goes with each letter. When your preschoolers are learning the alphabet, be sure to take every teachable opportunity you can to encourage them to recognize letters in the world around them. If you’re on a field trip, ask the children if they can spot their letter-of-the-week on a street or building sign. If you’re reading a book, see if they can spot the letters you’re reading to them. Keep pushing letter recognition throughout the day, so the lessons can really sink into their memory.

See more on our blog:

• How to teach digraphs to preschool children (6 ways)
• What is the best way to teach word recognition to early childhood readers?
• Why is literacy crucial in the early years? How can parents and preschools help with reading skills?
• How to teach toddlers and preschoolers to count, and learn their numbers
• Ideas for teaching shapes in preschool and daycare

How To Teach Toddlers The Alphabet (9 Effective Ways)

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

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! 

#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.

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.

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. 

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

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!

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

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.

#4.

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.

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!

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!

ABC online for kids. We learn the Russian alphabet.

Hello dear parents.
Your child is growing up, and you have set yourself the task to teach him the knowledge of letters and teach him to read words . Most likely you already have both alphabet and cubes with letters from which you can add words. You may have already had unsuccessful attempts teach your baby the alphabet . The child, on the other hand, either confused the letters, or generally refused activities that were uninteresting to him. Especially for your children, this speaking alphabet was created, which will definitely interest the child and it will be easy and natural for him to learn letters with the help of familiar images.

Your children probably already know the computer well and will be happy to learn Russian letters of the alphabet on their own in a playful way with the pronunciation of letters and words by the cartoon heroine "Masha and the Bear" . You just need to click on any letter of the alphabet and your child will plunge into the world of letters and words . To reinforce knowledge, an easy-to-remember rhyme is specially selected, which Masha pronounces with expression and a short cartoon about a letter. The talking alphabet for kids was created with the support of a child psychologist and is designed to memorize letters, numbers and associated associations.

We are glad to inform you that we have abandoned Flash and switched to modern HTML5. Thus, the online alphabet is now fully functional on all modern devices, cross-platform and cross-browser. nine0005 Just have your child click on the pictures and listen to Masha explain the meaning of . Learn letters from a tablet, iPad, laptop, computer...
And one more thing. If you opened the site from a tablet or iPad and the mobile version loaded, turn your device to landscape position and refresh the page. The full version of the site will load.
Huge request to share the site in social networks. By doing this, you will help us a lot!

Don't forget to turn on the sound! nine0006