Select an alphabet book to read to your child. Titles to consider include "ABC, I Like Me" by Nancy Carlson, "Chicka Chicka Boom Boom" by Bill Martin, "Eating the Alphabet" by Lois Ehlert" and "Elmo's ABC Book" by Sarah Elbee. Choose a book that has colorful illustrations and clearly printed letters.
Present the book to the child. Tell him or her it's an alphabet book and stress the word "alphabet." Allow him or her to look at the cover of the book. Point out letters and pictures on the cover of the book.
Read the book aloud to your child. While reading, point out the letters as they are mentioned. For example, when the letter "A" is mentioned in the text, point to the illustration of the letter. Stress the sounds the individual letter makes. Point to the illustrations that begin with each letter and stress the beginning letter sound. For instance, if there is a picture of an apple on the letter "A" page, point to it and stress the "A" sound in the beginning of the word.
Ask the child if he or she can point out specific letters. For example, ask "Can you find the letter 'C'?" Don't pressure; simply ask. If he or she does not respond, you could say "I see the letter 'C.' It's right here," and point to the letter.
Spread out magnetic letters or cutouts of the letters in alphabetical order. Present the letters to the child. Tell him or her that the symbols are letters and that the letters make up the alphabet.
Sing the alphabet song to the child. As you sing the song, point to each letter of the alphabet. Encourage the child to point to the letters with you as you sing the song.
Repeat the song several times. Each time you sing the song, point to the individual letters. As your child becomes familiar with the song, encourage him or her to sing along with you.
Ask the child if he or she can sing the song by him- or herself. Point to the letters as he or she sings the song. Alternatively, you could sing the song and have him or her point to the letters as you sing it.