written by: Jaimi Bird, M.A., CCC- SLP
Are you wondering how to interest your child in learning letter names and sounds? Do you want your son or daughter to be ready for kindergarten in the fall? Here are some fun ideas to work on letter identification and learn letter sounds!
You can find research that suggests learning letter names first. . . you can also find research that suggests learning the sounds the letters make first. I believe working on sounds and letter names together works well for most children!
A few tips:
Most letter names give the child a clue to what the sound will be, for example, the letter “P” has the /p/ sound at the beginning of the name of the letter, it makes sense to learn them together.
Teach both upper and lower case letters in pairs, but focus on the lower case letters first. Lower case letters are more commonly seen in print.
Expose your child to letters and their sounds throughout the day. For example, say the name of the toy as you play. If you are playing with dolls, you might say, “Dolls, d- d- doll that starts with the /d/ sound, letter D!”
Here are some fun activities to work on letter names and sounds:
Try this activity from howwelearn.com use letters made out of tape on the floor in the house, or use sidewalk chalk outside. Play games with the letters: “find the letter P” or “hop to the one that says /b/“.Use magnet letters on the refrigerator or on a baking sheet, play games with these too! Have your child help you when you are making your “to-do list” or “grocery list”. Give your child many opportunities to see print in books and hear stories read aloud. There are many great ways to incorporate letter names and sounds into day-to-day activities. However, if you feel like your child needs extra help or you would like your child to learn from experts in a small group setting, contact us at Enrichment Therapy & Learning Center! We have a wonderful summer preschool program ready to begin in June! Click here for more information.
Enrichment Therapy & Learning Center has locations in Johnston and North Liberty, IA, with virtual services also available. We provide individualized speech-language therapy, dyslexia and reading intervention, academic support, and executive functioning services to help children build skills and confidence. Contact us to learn more about how we can support your child.
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