Alphabet Awareness is an important part of literacy development. Introducing children to the alphabet both at an early age and in an entertaining way are beneficial to cultivating an early reader.
My professional suggestion is to begin with these simple tips between 9 and 12 months. By 18-24 months your child will be able to sing the alphabet and recognize many letters.
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Read simple books about the alphabet. Some great suggestions are located above.
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Point out letters in your child’s world. For example, my daughter has the letters of her name in her room and learned those quite quickly just by me pointing them out. Remember you want your children to learn both the names of the letters and the sounds those letters make.
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Think of the alphabet when purchasing gifts for your child. ABC puzzles are a great way to teach the alphabet. Try and get the kind that have the letter and underneath it is a picture of something that starts with that letter. Do the puzzle with your child and talk about why the G letter goes on top of the Grapes.
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ABC foam letters for the bathtub. Such a great buy! When they are wet, they stick to the walls. You can teach letters, sounds and colors while your child takes a bath!
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Letter stickers can be found just about anywhere, especially since scrapbooking materials are sold at stores like Meijer now. Children loves stickers, have your child put letter stickers on a piece of paper. Look through a magazine and cut out items that start with that letter. Help your little one glue them next to their letter stickers and refer back to their art creation with praise and excitement!
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Between ages 2.5 and 3, buy your child a white board and some dry erase markers. Write their name. Write letters of the alphabet and have them name them. Make it fun! At some point, your child may become interested in trying to write letters. You will know because they will make scribbles and tell you it’s a note that says something. This is an early literacy sign!
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Invest in the Leap Frog Letters Factory DVD and a fridge magnetic ABC toy (both in the visual above) they are must haves for every family!
Each week I try to think of a craft or project I can do with my daughter that goes along with a book we’ve read (oh, the teacher in me has struck again). This is series of things we have done around the book, Chicka, Chicka, Boom, Boom. It is hard to put an age on these activities because each child is so different. I would say anywhere from 24 months and on.
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Read the book, Chicka, Chicka, Boom, Boom
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Watch the very catchy song to the book on You Tube.
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Make a tree out of construction paper. Write sets of upper and lowercase letters on small pieces of paper. Stick with a set of maybe 8 letters, the entire alphabet could be overwhelming at this young age. Have your child match the letter in pairs and glue them to the tree.
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Using a cookie sheet, make a tree and have your child stick magnetic letters on the tree as you read the book or for fun! Talk about the letters and their sounds!
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Make a letter snack! Remember ants on a log (peanut butter on celery sticks) instead of raisins, use abc cereal! Use the leaves of the celery stalk for the top of the tree.
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Here are a few other activities: ABC Connect the dots and make a tree with your child’s handprints that they can decorate with letter stickers.
P.S. I can’t find the source of this picture but I will continue looking to give credit!