ALPHABET ADVENTURES
Pre-school children need to learn the shapes, names and sounds of 26 different letters—52 shapes, really, because the lower case letters only somewhat resemble the capital letters-- and then throw in 10 numerals. This is a lot to learn when you’re 3 or 4 years old. This is why we try to make the letters of the alphabet as vivid and “real” as possible. On this page are games and activities to help young students learn the letters.
Use what your kid (or kids) finds interesting and fun. Kids like things they can do, color, decorate, and manipulate. Make it an alphabet adventure!
Letter Learning Activities - Click on an activity, pattern, or online application:
Clothesline Letters — spell names or words from letters arranged on a string.
Print out very large letters—up to 3 feet tall. Besides being almost as tall as the child., these letters can be decorated with pictures of objects beginning with that letter.
Alphabet cookies — traditional way to teach alphabet letters. Decorate them with icing or sprinkles. Chocolate chip cookies can have chocolate chips on top, outlining the letter to emphasize it.
Foam letters (to cut out and decorate and play with)
Felt Animals to represent every letter, to go on a flannel board, and to play with (can also be printed out on paper)
Finger-paint the letters — easier to draw with a finger than with a pencil or pen. Finger-paint recipe included.
Letters on cards — Print and decorate your own letter cards. Flash cards shouldn't be dull.
Letter Sounds — online games to learn the sounds represented by the letters.
Palm Letters — spelling letters in the hand (sort of like reading a palm)
Learn Letters - online game to construct the shapes of the letters of the alphabet from circles and lines. A slightly different way to look at the lower-case letters, and makes the letters while involving less fine hand-eye coordination.
How do you begin teaching the letters of the alphabet to a child?
Start with that most important word—your child’s name. From the clothesline alphabet (the letters that fold over and stand up by themselves on a table, or that drape over a clothesline), or the Letter Cards print out the letters of your child’s first name (the short form, if there is one) and have the child color the letters and help put them in order. Name each letter as you arrange it. The next time you can do your child’s last name, and then middle name and then maybe the long form of the child’s first name. The child does not have to spell the name at this point; only to name the letters in his name. This makes learning the letters personal and important. Because it is something important to the child—his own name--the child “owns” his learning, and will be excited by it.“Mike”
“Michael”
“Michael William Johnson”
Note that our example contains 12 of the 26 letters of the alphabet, and four of the five vowels. Add his sister’s name “Betty Sue” (Betty Sue Johnson) and your child is familiar with 17 letters of the alphabet, and all of the vowels, including “Y”. Or add the name of a pet or a best friend, or even a favorite character. Most full names will include enough letters of the alphabet to be a good starting place in learning the names and shapes of the whole alphabet. Try to print the child’s name on drawings, or a lunchbox, or print out the letters and put them on the bedroom wall. You can even make a stamp with his name on it. After the child is familiar with the letters in his own name, and those in family names, teach him the rest of the alphabet.
Teaching kids all about alphabets and numbers used to involve plastic blocks or glossy books. Of course, you had to throw in lots of patience too. The patience bit has remained unchanged across generations, but a few new teaching tools to help with alphabets and numbers have come into the picture.
