This is the last post in the literacy series I have been posting on Tuesdays. It will look at letter knowledge and helping your child see that each letter has a name and specific sound.
Birth to 2-Years Old
- Help your baby or toddler see and feel different shapes as you play. Say, “The ball is round.”
- Point out letters on toys, food boxes, books, and other objects around the house.
2 to 3-years old
- Practice making letters from clay, finger paint, shaving cream, pudding, etc…
- Write your child’s name in the creative ways, like in the air, in dirt or sand, or traced on their backs.
- Keep magnetic letters on your refrigerator or foam letters in the tub.
4 to 5-years
- Start every letter in a sentence with the sound of a particular letter.
- Cut out pictures from magazines or catalogs that start with the letter you are learning.
- Help your child write words that interest her using crayons, markers, or pencil on paper
How we work on letter knowledge at our house:
- We look for letters all over.
- I asked JDaniel to look for letters by using the letter sound. “Where is the letter that says ay?”
- We have foam bathtub letters that can be used on the fridge when wet or in the tub.
- Wooden letter puzzles are part of our puzzle collection.
- We read lots of alphabet books
- JDaniel has a laptop that works on letter recognition. (I got it at a consignment store for $6.)
- I write letters all over the driveway and ask JDaniel to dump water from his watering can on the correct letter.
Places to find activities:
- There are tons of alphabet activities located at We Teach in the We Teach the Alphabet Forum.
- Counting Coconuts
- Teach Mama
- The Activity Mom recommends Itsy Bitsy Books (Free and Printable)
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This is a great resource!!
Wonderful links and ideas for the different ages/stages.
I wish all parents would incorporate your ideas!
I like the part that you wrote about birth-2 and pointing out different letters that are around in the home or store. I know I felt silly doing that because B wasn’t really even talking at that point, but I really think it made a differenc or at least increased his interest in letters.
Great ideas, i love the age breakdown
Great breakdown on the age levels. We absolutely love Chicka Chicka Boom Boom for letters. A and I have memorized the book and now he can recite the “rhyme” that accompanies each section when he sees letters out of context: “Look, Mommy, loose-tooth T!” Etc.
These are great tips! I really enjoyed this post. I’ve been working with my 17 month old so it was really nice to see the breakdown by age.
Thanks so much for stopping by. Have a great day.
Kristi, Live and Love…Out Loud
@TweetingMama
These are great! We have been working with Luke on letters and shapes… he just doesn’t seem that interested!
Love t o see your ideas! Try writing your child’s name using different letter fonts you cut out of magazines. Helps your child to recognize his name when written in a different presentation. Check out my early literacy blog for more ABC ideas too! Togethertime4families.com
Keep sharing and caring to promote learning! Susan at Togethertime4learning.com
Great idea with the watering can. Bet that’s a hit!