Easy as ABC: 10 tips to help your little one learn their letters
Learning the alphabet is one of the first big milestones in a child’s educational journey. It goes beyond just recognising letters—it sets the stage for a lifetime of reading, writing, and communication skills. As a parent or caregiver, you can make this process enjoyable and memorable by introducing letters through simple, fun activities that capture their curiosity. Here, I’ll share ten easy and engaging ways to introduce the alphabet so you can help your little one begin this exciting journey with joy and confidence.
Foster a love of reading
Encourage a love of books and reading whenever possible. Read anything and everything. If they are young, they cannot tell if you are reading them a best-selling children’s book or the manual for the microwave. I also keep a pile of board books in my son’s room that he can reach for himself to encourage him to interact with whenever he chooses.
Sing songs with letters
Kids love music. Incorporating singing into your playtime is another way to help them become familiar with different letters. Some nursery rhymes that feature letters include the alphabet song, B.I.N.G.O, and Old McDonald’s Farm. And it does not just have to be nursery rhymes. Do not be afraid to get creative with songs like YMCA (The Village People), Hollaback Girl (Gwen Stefani), and RESPECT (Aretha Franklin).
Use alphabet books
I may be biased as I have written an alphabet children’s book, but alphabet books highlight the letters and familiar words associated with the sound. It is also possible to find alphabet books that focus on a theme they are interested in, for example, dinosaurs or transportation. My story, Jack’s Noisy Day: A raucous romp through the alphabet, differs from the usual alphabet books as it focuses on sounds instead of nouns.
Use your library
Your local library is a beautiful resource. Our local branch has a weekly story time session, a nursery rhyme session every month, jigsaw puzzles and games featuring the alphabet, and, of course, lots of books! You can borrow alphabet books or pick a book starting with a different alphabet letter each visit. You can also create your own alphabet games at the library by asking them to find a book beginning with a particular letter or picking a random book and asking them to point out the letters they recognise.
Point out letters everywhere
Words and letters are everywhere. Point out signs and posters, make a scavenger hunt where they find each letter while grocery shopping, or pick one letter and point it out everywhere you see it. Do not be afraid to get creative!
Create a letter activity table or basket
Create a basket or fill their craft table with items beginning with the same letter. For example, add an apple, a toy aeroplane, an alarm clock and an apron for the letter A. They will love the sensory experience of interacting with the different objects, and you can help them become familiar with the pronunciation. I have created a colouring and activity book version of Jack’s Noisy Day, incorporating colouring, tracing and some simple games that would work great in an activity basket.
Start with familiar letters
Start with letters or sounds they are already making or the letters of their name. This helps to build on the knowledge they already have.
Incorporate movement
Kids love to be active. You can pick generic movements like clapping while singing nursery rhymes or using their hands and bodies to make the different letter shapes. Consider looking up fingerspelling in your country’s sign language (e.g. ASL or Auslan). You can even treat fingerspelling as a secret code for extra fun between you and your little one.
Use videos or games
YouTube is an excellent resource. You can use it to play alphabet songs or to sing specific videos around the alphabet. Personally, I like the Sesame Street ‘Letter of the Day’ videos. Plenty of games incorporate activities like matching letters to sounds or tracing the letter shapes. I have also created a game version of my book, Jack’s Noisy Day, which uses the images from the story to help kids learn the alphabet. All it needs is a PDF reader. As a special gift to readers of Wishing Star Publishing, I am offering a copy of this game for free! See details below.
Use Etsy to find resources
Etsy is amazing! If your child has something they are OBSESSED with, see if you can find decals or printables of the alphabet incorporating their favourite things. I am currently eyeing off some Bluey activity sheets, Hey Duggee fonts, and dinosaur alphabet wall art (and that is just for me!). The bonus feature of using digital downloads is you can print and use them repeatedly. My books are available on Etsy, as digital downloads, as well as a few other alphabet-related activities.
And a bonus tip:
Repeat, repeat, repeat
The more you repeat these exercises, the more familiar your child will become with the letters.
Learning the alphabet can be a fun and natural part of your child’s daily routine with these simple, engaging strategies. Whether they’re exploring books, singing songs, or spotting letters on a walk, these activities provide a foundation that supports their curiosity and growth. Remember, repetition is critical—and the more they interact with letters, the more confident and excited they’ll become about reading and learning. Here’s to creating a love of learning that will last a lifetime!
Free Stuff!
To help you get started, I have created a Benable list featuring some of my favourite alphabet resources (this list may contain affiliate links).
Click here for your free copy of Learn the Alphabet with Jack, an interactive PDF game to help little ones learn their letters.
Sarah Tinney is a pharmacist who lives and works in rural Australia. She loves music, crocheting, trains and being creative. When she is not working or being a mum, she volunteers with the local folk festival and historic railway and plays in a pirate band.
Find me on social media here, read more of my writing here, check my Etsy store here and order from Amazon here (alphabet book) and here (activity book).