Teaching your preschool child the alphabet does not have to be a daunting task. Today I will show you some fun ways to teach the alphabet to your child through worksheets, reading, and hands-on activities. My youngest two boys love to learn new things together so I have come up with some ways that both of then can learn the alphabet and teach the alphabet at the same time.
Since Big Red already knows the alphabet and their sounds his main role is teacher. Lil’ Red is only beginning to learn the alphabet so he is a willing student.
Teach the Alphabet with Hands-on Activities
My boys love hands-on activities which often include tot trays or sensory bins. I had already prepared zippered bags of items by letter a few years ago. I decided to grab the Letter “F” bag out and place it on a large green square tray I had purchased at the Dollar Tree. This made this hands-on activity more engaging for Lil’ Red.
He dove right in looking at and playing with the items that were part of the Letter “F” bag.
Teach the Alphabet with a Letter Scavenger Hunt
I wanted to create a way to learn the alphabet that was a little more active. Princess and I grabbed some vinyl letters and index cards to create alphabet cards. Then I hid them around the house for the boys to find. When I was done hiding them I told them it was time for an alphabet scavenger hunt.
They were so excited that they ran around the house finding the letter cards not once not twice but almost a dozen times! Big Red and Lil’ Red took turns hiding the letter cards for each other.
Teach the Alphabet by Reading Books
Since Big Red can read I ask him to read to Lil’ Red for the practice as well as to help teach the alphabet to Lil’ Red. Both boys love books so this is a perfect way for them to spend time together while not playing on screens! Since we own tons of boards books and easy readers this is a great arrangement! Big Red picked out Sandra Boynton’s A to Z to read while Lil’ Red enjoyed some dessert.
Teach the Alphabet by Watching an ABC Movie
I discovered LeapFrog videos when Big Red was 2 years old. At the time he was about to turn 3 years old he began watching Phonics Farm on Netflix. After two weeks on watching and singing along Big Red knew all the letters of the alphabet and their sounds which blew my plans for preschool that year out of the water, lol. Now Lil’ Red is almost turning 4 years old and doesn’t know his alphabet so I thought it was time to introduce him to the LeapFrog Letter Factory which I found at a garage sale last month!
Teach the Alphabet with Worksheets
Worksheets are important even if your child knows how to recognize the letters of the alphabet and their sounds. Remember when I told you about Big Red learning his letters and sounds by the time he turned 3? Well, I failed to use worksheets for preschool thinking that he didn’t need them- wrong! He still needed the practice of using a pencil and writing each letter of the alphabet. That is why I will be using lots of worksheets for both Big Red and Lil’ Red this coming school year!
I printed some of the first week’s lesson from Apples to Zebras An ABC Workbook for Preschool and Kindergarten that was created by Annette Breedlove. She graciously gave me a copy for review so I could share my boys experience with you! Lil’ Red got right to work on one of the Letter “F” worksheets. One of the big kids read to him the instructions so that he could find the items that started with the letter “F”. Since his favorite color is orange he picked an orange marker and started to color the correct items.
Eldest helped Lil’ Red with another worksheet which asked him to circle the beginning letter of the item pictured.
The coolest part of homeschooling is having children of various ages who help each other out throughout the day no matter what the project is.
How much does Apples to Zebras cost? So glad that you asked! Since it’s launch week you can get the best price available this week only!
- July 24 – 27 $9.99 (60% OFF)
- July 28 – 31 $17.50 (30% OFF)
- August 1 $24.99 (full price)
This is neat and I like that it is on sale and with Christmas right around the corner and neither my Niece or Nephew going to school this would be a way for there moms’ to work with them. Have a Blessed day.
Great ideas! I never thought to do letter trays. I will definitely be doing that now!