The Alphabet
Learning the ABCs
A five-year-old’s ability to recognize and name the letters of the alphabet is necessary for learning how to read. Making sure your child has lots of opportunities to play with letters is a fun and effective way to develop this important pre-reading skill. This can be done through alphabet songs, reading and looking at books, and playing games.
- By age 4, many children can point to and name at least 10 or 12 letters of the alphabet. They are also aware that the letters spell sounds that they make with their mouths. For example, “I make the sound /mmmm/ when I see the letter M. M is for Mommy!”
- By age 5, children can begin to match uppercase and lowercase pairs of letters. With guidance, they can continue to identify new letters and can match them with the sounds their mouths make when they say words.
Alphabet Fun
Sing the alphabet song
The most common way to introduce your child to the alphabet is by singing The ABC Song. This will familiarize them with the 26 letters in the alphabet.
Sing the song slowly, pronouncing each letter clearly, especially L-M-N-O-P.
Sung to the tune of “Baa Baa Black Sheep” or “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star” the lyrics are:
A-B-C-D-E-F-G
H-I-J-K
L-M-N-O-P
Q-R-S
T-U-V
W-X
Y and Z
Now I know my ABCs
Next time won’t you sing with me
The more exposure, the better. Keep your child interested in letters by watching one or more variations of The Alphabet Song. Here are some favorites:
The most common way to introduce your child to the alphabet is by singing The ABC Song. This will familiarize them with the 26 letters in the alphabet.
Sing the song slowly, pronouncing each letter clearly, especially L-M-N-O-P.
Sung to the tune of “Baa Baa Black Sheep” or “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star” the lyrics are:
A-B-C-D-E-F-G
H-I-J-K
L-M-N-O-P
Q-R-S
T-U-V
W-X
Y and Z
Now I know my ABCs
Next time won’t you sing with me
The more exposure, the better. Keep your child interested in letters by watching one or more variations of The Alphabet Song. Here are some favorites:
Say the alphabet
To encourage letter recognition, line up a set of uppercase magnetic letters in alphabetical order. After your child has learned the ABC song, ask them to “say” the alphabet. Point to each letter as they say it.
Read an alphabet book
When looking at an alphabet book together, ask your child to name the letter first and then tell you what the picture is. For example, on the first page your child can tell you, “That’s the letter A.” When you ask what the picture is, they’ll say, “It’s an apple.”
As you go through each letter and picture, emphasize the beginning letter and the sound it makes: “Apple starts with the letter A. Apple has the /a/ sound at the beginning.” Keep in mind that some letters, especially the vowels (A E I O U), can have more than one sound. For example, the alphabet might have a picture of an acorn for the letter A.
This game can be played with a set of simple alphabet picture cards too.
Match the Letters
For these activities use a set of magnetic letters and an alphabet chart. You can create your own chart by printing letters on posterboard. Use one side of the chart for uppercase letters and the other side for lowercase letters.
The match game
Give your child a few letters to start. Ask them to match the magnetic letters to the letters on the chart. Say “Where does the A go?” Then have your child place the magnetic letter on top of the A on the chart.
Vary the game by playing with a handful of different letters each time. Your child will also enjoy matching the letters in their name.
As your child begins to recognize the letters, draw their attention to letters they know in signs and books. This will be especially fun once they know the letters in their name. For example, when passing a McDonald’s, Maria’s mom might say: “There’s an M! That letter is the first letter in your name, Maria.”
Pro Tip
Using a set of magnetic letters will come in handy for many of these activities. Find a set that has both uppercase and lowercase letters. You can also make your own letter cutouts using cardboard or posterboard.
Pro Tip
When playing with alphabet letters, start by using uppercase letters as children find them easier to recognize than lowercase letters.
Books
- Chicka Chicka Boom Boom, by Bill Martin, Jr. and John Archambault
- Eric Carle’s ABC, by Eric Carle
- Dr. Seuss’s ABC, by Dr. Theodore Seuss
- B is for Bulldozer, A Construction ABC, by June Sobel
- Alligator Alphabet, by Stella Blackstone and Stephanie Bauer
- The Letters Are Lost, by Lisa Campbell Ernst
- Z Goes Home, Jon Agee
Online Videos
In these versions of The Alphabet Song your child hears the letters and the sounds the letters make.