How to Teach Your Preschooler Letters

Teaching letters to your child before they enter preschool is a fun and easy task you can do every day. Letters are easily identifiable all over your home and out in public. Your child can pick up on some letters more quickly than others, so be sure to use varied techniques when helping them identify letters.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Children's books
• Alphabet poster
• Magnetic letters
• Magazines
• Newspapers
• Construction paper
• Glue stick
• Flashcards

1. Read to your child every day. Point out different letters as you're reading and identify the objects so your child can hear the sound the letter makes.

2. Show your child letters in everyday situations, such as the letters on street signs or the large letters on the building of your local supermarket.

3. Hang a laminated alphabet poster, like one you might see in a preschool classroom, on the wall of your child's bedroom or playroom and refer to it daily. Make sure the poster includes uppercase and lowercase letters.

4. Place magnetic letters on your refrigerator and allow your child to play with them. Line them up out of the traditional alphabet order and ask your child to identify them.

5. Cut objects and pictures out of magazines and newspapers that all begin with the same letter. Paste the pictures on construction paper and hang your child's artwork on your refrigerator.

6. Designate a letter of the week and make sure to identify that letter in every situation and on everything you and your child see. Check out Brightly Beaming Toddler for more ideas and tips on teaching letters week by week.

7. Use flashcards that show your child an object and encourage him to name the letter the object starts with.

Tips & Warnings

• Consider purchasing books that focus on the letters of the alphabet and group different objects that start with the same letter on the same page. Visit specialty websites for preschool book recommendations (see Resources below).
• Sing the traditional ABC song with your child while doing your regular day to day activities.
• Remember that your child needs to be able to identify letters but not necessarily in order. Make learning letters fun for your child and don't feel pressured that they must know each letter in order before starting preschool.

Who Can Help:

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Resources

• Visit Brightly Beaming Toddler for ideas and tips on teaching letters.
• Visit Brightly Beaming Toddler's recommended book list for each letter.