6 Ways to Introduce letters and sounds to infants and young children (STAGE 1 to Reading):

Begin by reading to your child, creating various sounds, and incorporating music.

1. BOOKS:

There are books and music specifically designed around the alphabet. Some books feature a letter alongside a word that starts with that letter, such as “A is for Alligator.” Others contain multiple words beginning with the same letter, like the DK alphabet book. I prefer books that include multiple words and pictures per letter to help children visualize. I have developed a book in both black and white (for coloring or saving ink) and color versions, featuring various pictures, words, and tracing the letters.

 While reading, I include two different melodies to sing along to. The initial melody is from the ABC BABY SONGS – Nursery Rhymes ABC Alphabet Lullaby on YouTube.

I just shorten it while reading it a little bit and pick a random picture or word on the page to incorporate into the lyrics. For example, in KIDSTV123’s Phonics Song 3, the emphasis is on saying the letter, its sound, and a word that begins with that sound. Additionally, I turn the page while singing the ABC song from “A, B, C, D, E, F…” and point to each letter as I go through it.

2. SONGS:

Simply playing the song in the car while driving or singing it around the house can assist children in recognizing letters and sounds, helping them become more familiar with the alphabet.

3. MATCHING:

While reading the book, engage children by identifying toys or objects in the room that begin with the same letter as in the book. Encourage them to match the item with the corresponding letter in the story. Even without reading the book, prompt them to identify the starting letter of a toy or item, emphasizing the initial sound. Take a nature walk and search for items starting with a specific letter, play “I spy,” or point to objects and ask which letter they begin with.

4. PUZZLES:

ABC puzzles can be enjoyable. Say the letter out loud while solving them. Arrange the letters in ABC order without the puzzle board on the ground. Encourage singing the ABC Song or point and say the letters by name and sound.

5. TRACING:

Trace letters in the books and chunky letters with your finger.

6. APPS:

• OSMO tiles: provide an enjoyable learning experience by allowing children to arrange letters, practice sounds, and learn names.

• Fish School: an app where they can press the letters and they say the name of the letter as well as the fish making the shape of the letter.

Book to Show Different Words for a Letter, Trace the Letter, and Sing While Reading:

This book is a great way to introduce children to different words for a letter. . While reading the book, I sing it to my child phonetically. We also sing the Alphabet song and flip and point to each letter while singing it. This book is available in colored (for a more realistic visual of the word) as well as black and white (so the child can color in the pictures).

ABC BOOK IN COLOR:

ABC BOOK IN BLACK AND WHITE: