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How to Teach a Child to Read the Alphabet

Before children can start to read books, they need to be able to recognize the alphabet letters and their corresponding sounds. Flash cards and audiotapes designed to teach the alphabet are usually not appropriate for toddlers and preschoolers, since they learn differently from older children. These tools might also bore toddlers and make learning more of a chore than a fun activity. Instead, use visual cues and tactile activities to teach your children alphabet letters and sounds.

Things You'll Need

  • Alphabet books
  • Magnetic alphabet tiles
  • Alphabet puzzles
  • Playdoh
  • Shaving cream
  • Finger paint
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Instructions

    • 1

      Read to your child. Pointing out words and letters in a book can help children understand that words consist of individual letters, an important concept when learning to read. Allow your child to show you the words, letters, colors and objects he recognizes in the picture book.

    • 2

      Give your child alphabet toys, such as puzzles and magnetic tiles, to play with. Encourage her to spell out her name and other simple words using the tiles. Play with the toys together so you can reinforce her learning.

    • 3

      Go on an alphabet hunt. Look for letters and sounds in your child's home or school and point them out to your child. You can even play an alphabet game in the car, in which you look for specific letters on billboards and signs.

    • 4

      Play word games with letters and letter sounds. Once your child recognizes most of the letters, you can start working on their sounds. One game might involve starting with the first letter of your child's name, then asking him to think of other words that start with the same letter.

    • 5

      Teach your child to write her letters to reinforce his letter identification skills. To accommodate tactile learners, let her write the letters with shaving cream or finger paint, or make them out of playdoh.

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