Learning to read (5 Activities to introduce letter names)

1. Sing Songs

Singing the alphabet song to your child introduces the letters to them in a fun way. Start singing to them as a baby and as they get older, have them start singing along (which they probably will do naturally!).

2. Read Alphabet Books

Read all sorts of alphabet books to your children, even starting as babies. The repetition will really help your child learn the alphabet at a young age.

3. Sandpaper Letters

Using sandpaper letters is a great way to introduce letters to children. You could use Didax Sandpaper Tracing Letters or School supply Tactile Letters Kit.  This is a perfect prewriting activity because children use their finger to trace the sandpaper letters. I love that the cards tell the child where to start and which direction to go.

Sandpaper letters are part of the Montessori approach to learning how to read. These letters provide a tactile and visual way to help children learn the alphabet. In the Montessori Method, you teach letters to a child in the 3-period lesson.

1^st period is introducing the letter (“this is” period). Show your child the letters. Have them trace the sandpaper letters. The best way to teach children alphabet letters is by telling them their phonetic sound.  So each time they trace the letter, say the phonetic sound.

2^nd period is association (“show me” stage).  Ask your child to follow simple directions with the letters. For example, please pick up the /m/ and set it by the window. Continue to do this with each letter several times to reinforce this. If it is too difficult, return to the first period.

3^rd period is recall (“what is this?” period). Only go to this period when they’ve mastered the other two periods.  Put a letter in front of the child and say “Can you trace this and tell me what it is?” Continue with the other letters in the same way.

When you use these sandpaper letters, you are teaching them 3 things: the shape of letters, the feel of its shape and how it’s written, and how you pronounce its sound.

4. Alphabet Puzzles

I think teaching letters with alphabet puzzles are an amazing tool for teaching the alphabet. There are beautiful wooden puzzle with neat pictures. This is a great way to practice vocabulary and verbal skills, too.

5. Learn with Alphabet Rhymes

This is my favourite way to teach little ones how to write alphabet letters. Alphabet rhymes are a fun way to help children learn how to write the letters in proper formation. Plus the clever rhymes will help children remember the formations!