Learning Alphabets For Kids: Tips And More For Parents of Preschoolers

Introduction

The acquisition of language is critical to further the mental development of children. Both reading and writing are essential for a child to learn more about letters and words. Alphabets are the building blocks of language. Learning the alphabet is the first step towards understanding the association of sounds with letters. Thereafter your child will learn how to associate these different alphabets with each other to form words and then sentences.

Tips To Make Your Kid Learn Alphabets

As a parent, it can be a bit of a challenging process to introduce your kid to different types of alphabets with the right sound. If you're worried about how to devise the right learning plan for your kid, here are some exciting ways to teach your kid the alphabet the right way.

Make An Alphabet Song

Anything that's in a rhyme will be automatically more appealing to your child. Instead of using traditional methods such as worksheets and books, you may go for a rhythmic song or poem that is easier to learn. These poems and songs are specifically made for children and come with engaging visuals where they can also associate the sound with the correct alphabet. Also, keep humming this song to your child throughout the day to make them learn it faster.

Write, Write, and Write

Writing practice ensures that the child remembers the shape and the construction of an alphabet. The more the child practices, the better they will get at writing different alphabets without any help from the parents. You may start the writing practice by using some tracing alphabet books where they simply have to trace over dotted lines. To keep them engaged, try to get books that are colorful and come in different themes.

Introduce Letters One By One

You must try to take it slow and not introduce all the 26 alphabets to your child at once. Start by teaching them the first five alphabets and then progressively introduce more each day. Make sure that you support learning with interesting pictures and tell them the exact sound of the alphabet. Before introducing new alphabets to your kid, try to test their retention of the previous ones. This way you can keep track of your child's progress report and increase the level keeping that in mind.

Using Toys For Learning

A great way to integrate learning into play is by selecting toys that reinforce what you're teaching to your child already. Try to find toys that may mimic the sound of the alphabets so that when your child is involved in playing with that toy, subconsciously, they're listening to the alphabet sounds again and again. Constant alphabet auditory activity will promote faster and more accurate learning among kids.

Reward Your Child

Rewarding can be a very positive reinforcement for your child, especially during the early stages of learning. Since learning requires a lot of discipline, you must set up some reward at the end of the whole process for your child to feel encouraged about the acquisition of the alphabet. The reward can be in the form of verbal encouragement and appreciation, or like a small sticker or chocolate. Show your child that you are proud of his/her efforts.

Be Consistent

Consistency will be your best friend as a parent while teaching your kid the alphabet. Try to devote a fixed number of hours every day while making your child learn sounds and letters. Small breaks may make your kid forget what they had learned the last time. To keep things interesting, rotate learning materials, but avoid taking a sabbatical in between.

Alphabet Hunt Game

A substantial way to check the progress and assessment skills of your child is by playing an alphabet hunt game with them. Take some alphabet cutouts or wooden alphabets and hide them in different parts of the house. Now choose an alphabet of your choice and give them some cues about the location of that particular alphabet. See if your child can find those alphabets or not. The game will also help children gain confidence.

Involve Sensory Play

Sensory play can be a bit difficult for you to arrange sometimes as it requires props and might get a bit messy also. However, if you want to keep your child attentive for a longer amount of time, then going about it is a great idea. Avoid taking anything fancy and choose things available in the kitchen itself. Make alphabets with leftover wheat dough, straw cutouts, papers, clay, or any such material that is available at your house already. This is a learning-by-doing technique that fosters great results among children

Colouring And Painting Alphabets

A color book that contains broad pictures of different alphabets is an artistic way of introducing your child to different alphabets and their shapes. A different way of integrating paints and colors into alphabet learning is by painting alphabets on rocks. Of course, your child will need your assistance doing these artistic tasks, but this is going to be worth the time and effort.

Conclusion

Remember that as a parent, you have to be extremely involved in the process of teaching your child the alphabet. Take this as an opportunity to bond better with your kid and make this learning as interesting and fun as possible.