Support early literacy skills with fun activities that prepare kids for learning the letters of the alphabet. It's never too early to instill a love of ABC's.

  Privacy and Disclosure for information on cookies and affiliates

Is there anything more meaningful than the humble alphabet? We are enriched every day by our ability to read and write.

The alphabet journey is an exciting adventure for both students and teachers: a preschooler feels a sense of pride when he recognizes the first letter of his name;  teachers and parents know the value of learning the alphabet.

But learning, and understanding, the alphabet can be a challenge for little learners. Guiding them to this goal is an important undertaking for teachers and parents.

How to Teach (or Not Teach!) ABC's

Simply put, the best way to help preschoolers learn new things, including the alphabet, is to let them play.

In their early years, it's helpful to provide lots of opportunities for kids to engage in hands-on play and meaningful interactions, to build interest and strengthen childhood skills.

Before they can grasp the concept of letters leading to words leading to reading and writing, kids need to practice cognitive skills (including language and visual) and fine motor skills.

Related: Pre-Reading Skills article from ABC's of Literacy

We can prepare preschoolers for learning the ABC's in fun ways that build future reading and writing skills.  

1. Read. Read. Read.

If you've been reading regularly to your toddler or preschooler, you've already started 'teaching' the alphabet.

Reading to kids in their early years is fundamental. 

PreK Pages recommends nursery rhymes as a good foundation for building literacy skills. 

One on one, or in small groups, reading is a powerful tool for introducing kids to written words.

Instill a love of books early on in your journey that will eventually lead to learning the letters of the alphabet.

Related: Tips for Reading to Preschoolers

Besides reading at scheduled story times, make lots of books available so kids can 'read' on their own.

Books can be read on any topic. Here are a few fun options.

2. Practice fine motor skills.

Kids require strong fine motor skills to hold pencils and make the required movements to reproduce letters. Playing with a variety of toys and materials strengthens the muscles needed for later writing skills, including hand-eye coordination and pencil grasp.

Activities like squeezing play dough, tracing letters with a finger, digging and pouring in a sensory bin, and coloring with crayons will help build strong hands and fingers.

Related: Fine Motor Play with Modeling Clay

Provide plenty of time for hands-on play in the early years to help your preschooler develop the fine motor skills required for writing in later years.

Tips for teaching the letters of the alphabet

The basic concept for teaching early learners is to provide opportunities for kids to engage in self-directed learning. They can achieve this through hands-on interaction and experimentation with materials, both toy-based and real-life options. 

Does your toddler love singing the ABC song as he washes his hands? 

Did your preschooler recognize a letter on the label of his toy car?

Preschoolers need lots of play time to make learning meaningful. 

(They don't need tutorials or work sheets. They don't need a lot of sitting. Even grownups become dull with too much paper work and sitting.)

This means presenting child-led activities, with colorful and interesting materials, both new and familiar.

• a puzzle with letters of the alphabet
• alphabet blocks
• magnetic letters on a cookie sheet
• paper and crayons
• ABC books

Activities That Teach 

Kids build cognitive skills (reasoning, remembering, recognizing) by choosing, experimenting and discovering, and by repetition.  

Flash cards and 'letter of the week' tactics as alphabet prompts may play a part in your overall program, but should not be relied on as your sole learning tools.

The concept of teaching the alphabet should be guided by the practice of learning through play.

Kids need to have fun to fully engage in an activity, to maintain interaction and ultimately learn new skills. 

This post with early literacy activities provides some fun options for exploring letters of the alphabet.

The crafts and activities offer a variety of hands-on ways to introduce ABC's in your daily schedule.

Introduce Letters

There are various guidelines from educators in the early childhood field of study on how to introduce letters of the alphabet.

Some early educators recommend starting with upper case, while others opt for lower case first.

Some indicate that alphabet letters can be introduced in a predetermined order, or that vowels should be introduced first. 

You can intentionally integrate related play opportunities into your daily schedule: at circle time, with a helper 'name' or letter of the week displayed on a card; at an arts and craft session with a printed letter to color and cut out.

You can also set up literacy activities in your centers.

• alphabet blocks in the block corner
• felt letters on the flannel board
• pictures of letters to paint on the easel
• wood, plastic, and foam letters to weigh on a scale at the science table

There are also ways you and your early learner can proceed naturally day to day.

• Draw attention to letters of your child's name on cereal boxes or street signs.
  
  
• Invite your child to 'sign' a greeting card by drawing with a crayon. 
  
  

Related: Cardboard Laptop Letter Matching

Acknowledge and celebrate your preschooler's advancement into recognizing letters of the alphabet.

Support each accomplishment, and create further challenges as interest and skill level proceeds.

When to Teach

You probably want to be a champion of helping kids learn their ABC's. You might even want fast and predictable results.

Recognize that kids will proceed at their own rates, at different levels of skill and development.

Readiness for an early learner is an ongoing developmental process. It's that tangible energetic component that shows itself as kids explore and learn from their experiences day to day.

• From the dictionary: ...a developmental stage at which a child has the capacity to receive instruction at a given level of difficulty or to engage in a particular activity.

The level of readiness for any given skill is fluid, growing and evolving as the child grows.

Rather than waiting for your preschooler to be ready to be taught, support interests and skills as they become evident throughout early childhood.

It's never too early to instill a love of ABC's.

Early on, toys and activities can be made available during regular play times to generate familiarity with, and enjoyment of, the letters of the alphabet. 

You might observe your preschooler identifying letters on a set of ABC blocks as he stacks them; recognizing the first letter of his name on his classroom cubby; 'writing' a letter to grandma.

You can extend these insights and experiences into your daily activities, at home or in the classroom.

This is easiest to achieve with hands-on learning, with age appropriate literacy activities.

Clarify Your Goal(s)

You want to teach the alphabet to your early learners, but you're not sure how to start.

• Do you need flash cards?
  
  
• Are 'letter of the week' activities valuable?
  
  
• Should students copy and print letters on work sheets?

An understanding of best practices for teaching or guiding early learners will help you plan daily literacy activities.

Your method of instruction will also be determined in part by your teaching goals.

• Do you have expectations for when kids should learn the alphabet, based on age or skill level?
  
  
• Do you want to complete a certain section of a proscribed curriculum during a school term?
  
  
• Is your preschooler asking to spell his or her name?
  
  
• Is your child required to spell his or her name before entering kindergarten?

Your goal(s) might change over time as you explore the letters of the alphabet with your preschoolers.

Related: Goals for Developing a Preschool Program

Once you have a goal in mind, you'll want to secure the best method(s) for supporting early literacy skills.

As with all things preschool, let play be the guide that introduces and reinforces letter recognition and letter sounds. This will lead to forming letters, and eventually spelling words as kids develop the appropriate skills.

Enjoy your alphabet journey. 

And keep singing the ABC song as you wash your hands!