| Learning the alphabet is a prerequisite for many | | | | supermarket use grocery labels "look spaghetti |
| of the literacy skills required to learn to read. | | | | starts with a 's'", Encourage your child to point out |
| Without a firm knowledge of letters, children could | | | | letters they know and praise them when the child |
| have difficulty with all other aspects of early | | | | does it independently - although many children |
| literacy. | | | | may start with the Golden Arches of MacDonald's! |
| However remember to keep it fun. Making it a | | | | 6. Make letters out of cooked Spaghetti/string |
| regular activity that is fun and varied will help to | | | | Cook some spaghetti and have fun creating |
| reinforce the learning. | | | | letters with it. Or for a less messy option use |
| 1. Alphabet jigsaw puzzles | | | | string/wool. To help your child by drawing a large |
| There are many alphabet jigsaw puzzles which | | | | letter that that they can swirl the spaghetti or |
| have the letters and an associated image. This is | | | | string around. |
| another way to play and expose your child to the | | | | 7. Play in a sand pit or at the beach |
| alphabet. | | | | Use a stick to draw letters in the sand. Draw a |
| 2. Tracing Their Name | | | | letter first and have your child copy it. |
| When a child can say aloud the spelling of their | | | | 8. Hunt the alphabet |
| name then make some tracing pages of their | | | | Write the alphabet on a piece of paper. Go around |
| name. Have your child trace the letters. This | | | | the house until you have found an object |
| creates a direct association of the shape of the | | | | beginning with each of the letters - good luck with |
| printed letters with the letters of their name. | | | | q and x! |
| They will be learning letters and early writing skills. | | | | 9. Steam fun |
| 3. Tracing the Letters of the Alphabet | | | | If you have a mirror in your bathroom that gets |
| Either create your own tracing pages of letters, | | | | steamy why not practice writing with your child's |
| or print out some pre-made letter tracing pages, | | | | finger in the steam. |
| these are readily available on the internet. | | | | 10. Colouring Pages |
| Repetitive tracing of each letter will solidify their | | | | Most children love colouring so print off some |
| learning of the letter shapes. | | | | colouring pages with the letter displayed and a |
| 4. Play internet games | | | | picture of something that begins with the letter. |
| There are some games available on the internet | | | | Tell your child what the letter is and then point to |
| which teach children about letters and letter | | | | the picture and explain that the picture also starts |
| sounds. Children will also love to use the computer! | | | | with the letter. |
| 5. Point to Letters on Everyday Objects | | | | Children can learn really effectively whilst having |
| Point to words you see in everyday places and | | | | fun. |
| tell your child the starting letter. In the | | | | |