Looking for information on how to help kids learn the alphabet? This is the post for you. In this article, you’ll find information about building alphabet knowledge, how to support a child learning letters, and easy alphabet activities to help with letter retention.
What’s the best way for kids to learn the alphabet?
The best way for kids to learn the alphabet is play. It’s not a fancy workbook, special program, or expensive school. It’s play.
As much as we might think adults need to have a big hand and push into kids learning the alphabet, that’s just not always the case: Kids learn the alphabet when they play with it.
No stressing needed in the early years.
RELATED: Are you still stressing about the alphabet and when kids should learn letters? Read this article about the letters and worrying.
Looking for more structure each day?
Check out Playing Preschool: Busy Toddler’s 190-day at-home activities program
How do you help your child learn the alphabet?
By letting them play with it.
Kids need exposure to letters – the same way they have exposures to animals, dolls, cars, trucks, numbers, and blocks.
The truth is: memorizing letter names is just that, memorizing. While it may seem super fancy, memorizing letter names is no different than memorizing dinosaur names, color words, princesses, and Paw Patrol characters.
It’s memorizing the name of a symbol.
The difference is, parents have been told that memorizing the ABCs as quickly as possible is the key to learning success. That’s just not true.
Learning in the early years shouldn’t be pigeon holed to just memorizing. The early years is for learning to problem solve, communicate, critical think, to ask question, to take risks, to develop life long skills… and they develop all these through PLAY.
It all comes back to play.
How can you help kids with their letters?
Instead of thinking about learning letter names as this big, lofty educational milestone, let’s bring things into perspective: learning the alphabet is similar to learning animal names.
You read that right.
Our children see animals everywhere, and we encourage them to learn animal’s name and sound as they do.
We help them grow this skill so naturally: “That’s a cow. It says mooooo.”
Letters are no different. We are asking a child to memorize the name and the sound it makes. So instead of stressing and teaching letter names in isolation, try bringing them up in context (just like you do with animals).
“That’s an M. It says mmmmm.”
We don’t build up animal names. We don’t worry about animal names. We don’t buy flashcards to help memorize names and sounds faster.
But we do with letters.
We don’t need to.
Why you should follow your child’s lead on letter?
Just like we don’t push animals, or construction trucks, or dinosaur names on little kids if they aren’t interested… follow the same rule with letters.
If you do have a child who is interested in letters, play with them. Answer questions. Be casual. Be cool. It’ll happen. Remember, kids are expected to learn the alphabet in kindergarten (that’s what the Common Core State Standards say)
What are the best activities for kids learning the alphabet?
Here’s some of my greatest hits/activities from through the years that helped my kids learn their letters bit by bit.
Nothing fancy. Just play and fun, light and breezy.
Alphabet Scoop and Transfer
A combination literacy + sensory + life skills activity that can’t be beat. A good set of alphabet magnets (like the ones here) are a must!
Alphabet Match Up
Identifying capital letters and their small letter counterparts is a big deal… but it’s also similar to kids recognizing several breeds of bears or that Great Danes and Poodles are both dogs.
It’s another skill that grows over time.
ABC Paint Match
A little art + letter recognition here, and this activity uses alphabet magnets too. They’re an important toy/supply to keep on hand!
ABC Puzzle Bin
The tag line is right here: all these supplies came from the Dollar Store! The Dollar Store is a GREAT place to find activity supplies
ABC and Color Sorting Activity
I spy alphabet magnets again!!! This is a FUN activity for littles – because it’s a color sorting activity that uses alphabet pieces as the materials. My son (in this photo) didn’t know his ABCs yet, but he had a ball playing with them.
Post-It Match
Always a favorite! This is a MATCHING activity – and my daughter had a ball trying to put her letters back in alphabetical order.
ABC Tube
Grab your toilet tube collection and your dot stickers. This is a great (and portable!) activity for kids.
Alphabet Find
A classic here. This has been on repeat since 2016 and we play it ALL THE TIME. It’s part letters, part gross motor, and one of the greatest “sittervising” activities of my life.
Alphabet Post-It Wall
An activity that focuses on “tricky letters.” This activity is for all those letters that look different in capital vs lower case form. Ss and Cc are easy letters. Ee and Gg? Tricky letters.
Alphabet Match
Hello to one of my favorite activities and favorite TRICKS. Yes, that sharpie really does come off. And everyone say hi to my alphabet magnets yet again…
Erase the ABC’s
I can still remember the first time we did this! Feels like yesterday so you know that makes me feel OLD. It’s a classic for a reason… and the reason I got so many dinners made with 3 under 4.
Puzzle Unwrap
Look at this cutie unwrapping his puzzle pieces. What kid doesn’t love opening a present? 26 alphabet puzzle pieces is one mighty fine way to play with the ABCs.
Letter Hunt
Featuring one of my favorite alphabet toys: the foam bath letters. Not just for the bath, and totally awesome to play with. We still have a set of these!
We often get hung up on ages with kids when success with an activity has so much more to do with the child’s interest level than their age. Activities are like food: not all foods will work for all kids and not all activities will work for all kids. We make decisions on what to cook for dinner based on what we know about each child and their tastes. Do the same with activities. Remember that all activities require
parent supervision.
Read my post on children learning the alphabet. The short answer: you don’t need to worry if your toddler hasn’t learned the ABCs.
I don’t, but my friend at Happily Ever Elephants does. You can find her list alphabet books on her website.
Susie Allison, M. Ed
Owner, Creator
Susie Allison is the creator of Busy Toddler and has more than 2.3 million followers on Instagram. A former teacher and early childhood education advocate, Susie’s parenting book “Busy Toddler’s Guide to Actual Parenting” is available on Amazon.
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