How to Teach a Toddler Letter Recognition

Young children are very aware of their surroundings and the language used to describe everyday objects and ideas. You can help enhance your toddler's awareness and recognition of letters by observing and building on your child's play.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Pooh Alphabet Mats
• Alphabet Games
• Alphabet Letters
• Alphabet Stampers
• Toy - Number And Alphabet Foam Mat

1. Observe your toddler at play. Your toddler will begin to recognize that letters are everywhere, on objects and toys in your house. Grab onto the teachable moment by explaining to your child the significance of letters.

2. Read with your child every day. There is no better way to teach children what letters are and how they form words than by reading.

3. Make a poster with the alphabet on it. Use upper case letters to start with. Tape the poster to a wall in a room where your child often plays. Refer to the poster when you observe your child noticing letters. Say things like, "I see an A or B or C or...." Point to the poster and show your child the letter you are talking about.

4. Point out letters you see when you are driving, shopping or taking a walk. Point to signs when you are driving and shopping in a store. There are letters everywhere in your neighborhood. Point them out to your toddler, and praise your toddler for pointing out letters to you.

5. Buy toys that have letters on them. Puzzles, toy phones, alphabet mats, books - the list is endless. Think about your child's education as well as entertainment when you buy toys. Toys that allow your toddler to actually touch and feel the shape and curvature of letters will help your toddler notice the physical differences between letters.

6. Discuss the letters on toys and make up silly games to play with them. Take a soft foam letter and throw it in the air. Scream the name of the letter when you throw it up. Anything you do when you are playing to draw attention to letters will enhance your child's letter recognition skills.

Tips & Warnings

• Praise your toddler often for trying to recall letters. Remember that your child is learning a new skill. Don't be critical of mistakes.
• Purchase an educational video about letters for your toddler to watch. There are some great ones out there.
• When you are coloring, draw letters and name them as you draw them.
• If your child recognizes a letter but gives it the wrong name, correct your child by saying something like, "Yes, I see a W. You are good at pointing out letters."
• Show your toddler the differences and similarities of the letters M and W by turning them upside down over and over again while saying, "Now it's an M, now it's a W."
• Your toddler will have a short attention span. Don't force a toddler to continue a game if he or she wants to move to something else.
• Engage your toddler in learning while you are playing. Trying to get your child to sit down and listen to a lesson about letters will prove frustrating to you and the child.
• Consult your family doctor if you experience extreme frustration or anger when interacting with your child.

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[dsanchez28]

on 7/23/2009 I put sticky notes on things around the house with a letter on each note (W on the window). We then said the letter name and the word for each letter.

[Walkaboutangel]

on 5/27/2008 Now all toddlers are developmentally ready for letter recognition.... See my article on How To Help Your Child Learn To Read for more info on the skills necessary for reading and for some activities to help develop those skills....

Angel

on 9/10/2006 My daughter has foam letters for the bathtub. She started becoming interested in them so I encouraged her to play with them and started telling her which letter was which and a familiar word or name that started with that letter. Before her second birthday she could identify every letter and tell you what that letter is for. I used mostly people to associate with the letters and I think that was helpful. (G is for Grandma, D is for Daddy, etc..)

on 11/22/2005 Use foam letter blocks (the kind that fit together like a bit puzzle) as a play mat in your child's room, or use one of the carpets printed with the alphabet. Then play games with them: "Stand on the letter 'A'," or "Jump on the letter 'J'." After they have begun to recognize the letters, begin to play by having them find the letter by its sound. They can eventually graduate to, "Put your left hand on the first letter of the word 'dog'."

on 11/22/2005 My daughter first pointed out letters on the computer keyboard at 19 months. We taught her the letters in her name, and she loved to type them in large fonts. Now, she even knows the difference between the letters and the numbers.

The Sesame Street website with Elmo's alphabet is great. She loves to type a letter and listen to Elmo say it out loud.