When I worked with preschool children, parents often asked me if I could teach their children to read before kindergarten. My answer (very nicely) was no. I did, however, promise that I would create an atmosphere rich with letters, reading, and literacy opportunities. I would excite their children about letters, books, and reading.
Children are natural learners. From the moment they’re born, they are learning, there’s much to explore and discover!
Today, I would like to share some of these learning activities here with you.
Check out these fun ways to teach your preschooler their letters! #parents #homeschooling Share on X
Create inspiring environments for reading.
Set up a cozy corner in a room near a window with natural light. Add plants, soft cushions, and beautiful artwork. Place books in an attractive basket and rotate the books regularly.
Read to them.
Reading is probably one of the most effective ways you can teach your child their letters.
Ask questions.
When you’re reading to your preschooler, practice asking questions about the story.
Simple questions you could ask are:
- What do you think this story will be about?
- Who is the main character?
- Where does this story take place?
- Why did a certain character make a particular decision?
- How would you handle this situation?
- What was his favourite part of the story?
- If he wrote this book, what would he change about it?
Listen to audio books.
When you’re not reading to them, provide opportunities for them to listen to audiobooks (paired with the matching picture book).
Here are a few excellent choices of audiobooks for preschoolers:
Stuck – Oliver Jeffers
The Gruffalo and Friends CD Box Set – Julia Donaldson
Frog and Toad CD Audio Collection – Arnold Lobel
Sylvester and the Magic Pebble – William Steig
Label everything.
Get a label maker and label major items in the house. Label the door, a window, tables, and chairs… your child will quickly learn that each word represents the object it is adhered to.
Write messages to them.
Write little notes to your child and stick them on their door. If you want to make it especially fun, make a family mailbox out of a shoebox and place your letters in there. Your child may get into it and start “writing” messages of his own!
Magnetic letters.
Spell out words and messages to them using magnetic letters. Read the messages to them.
Have letters in the environment.
Frame attractive flashcards and display them in their rooms. You can even spell out their name with flashcards and display it.
When you’re on field trips or running errands, point out letters to them as well.
Provide alphabet activities and crafts.
There are many ways to make exploring the alphabet fun! Here are a few ways to get your little ones to recognize letters:
– Place plastic letters in a bin with coloured water. Add ladles and bowls. Play alphabet soup and encourage your child to scoop out different letters to spell words.
– Laminate large printouts of letters and encourage your child to stick playdough onto the letter shape.
– Have a letter scavenger hunt. Hide letters around the room and have your child hunt around the room for them. As they find each letter, they can check it off of their companion checklist.
– Provide letter shapes and allow your child to glue collage items onto the letter. Make the activity extra meaningful by providing items that pair up with the letter (i.e., the letter P; pompoms, popcorn seeds, paper, etc.)
– Laminate letters and make a path on the floor for them to walk on.
– Place letters on the floor and have a game where they have to sit on a letter that you call out to them.
– Give your child a tray of sand with a flashcard. Prompt them to use their finger to print the letter in the sand. If you don’t have sand, you can do this with different plastic letters and a flashcard.
Make a theme of it.
Take a letter and pair it with a theme. For example, “A is for Apple”… explore apples in every way possible but keep on returning to the idea that Apple begins with the letter “A”.
Get access to these FREE downloads!
I have a few fun tools (which I described in this post) for you to download today! The downloads include:
- alphabet play dough mats
- a colourful sheet of letters (use as mini-flashcards, for the scavenger hunt, etc.)
Scroll to the bottom of the post to snag your downloads.
Reflect:
How do you make reading fun for your preschooler?
This colourful alphabet chart can be used for various learning activities with your child.
These A-Z alphabet mats are a great resource to add to your homeschooling tool kit. You can even laminate them and use them as playdough mats, tracing letters, and more!
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I love all of your tips! We do many of these and just introduced our three year old to audio books. She’s loving them. ?
I’m delighted you enjoyed these tips Erin! I love audio books – they are the BEST! I love using them at transitional times (like when I’m making lunch or cleaning) – plus my children adore them!
Great ideas! I’ve always liked writing my kids messages.
My girls get so excited when they get messages from me. I love it!
We just set up a reading corner for A in the playroom. It has a book shelves and a princess canopy. I’m hoping that helps her want to read more. We also have the Usborne learn to read series that I really like as well.
Great tips Jennifer!
A space for reading makes all the difference in the world! Even I like to have a special reading space. I’m glad you enjoyed these tips Tiffany.