Proven Methods for Teaching ABCs

If you are like most parents you are looking for ways to teach the ABC’s to your toddler. There are many different methods for teaching the ABC’s, but there isn’t one particular method that stands out the best. So many parents feel the best method for teaching the ABC’s is to take direction from PBS Kids’ Sesame Street.

Since the show has been on television for so many years, it is a popular favorite amoung many parents as it is a wonderful educational tool for their children to learn letters, numbers, colors, and other activites.

If your child has begun to recognize and name letters before entering kindergarten, they will have an easier time learning to read than other children who are still learning these skills. The best method for teaching the ABC’s to your child is to encourage them to read. They can pick up a book and start recognizing letters that correspond to shapes and colors. Of course “The Alphabet Song” is a long time proven method for many children to learn their ABC’s. It helps them practice memorization of the letters and therefore makes it easy to learn the ABC’s.

If you have watched Sesame Street you may have noticed their tactic for teaching the ABC’s. They teach the ABC’s by focusing on a letter a day. You can teach the ABC’s to your child by picking one letter and focusing on objects in your house that correspond to the letter such as A for apple, B for book, and so on. Or how about picking a letter and using it will the food they eat such as M for milk or macaroni and cheese, muffin, mayonnaise, and mustard.

You can also purchase books at your local book store or rent them from the library that focuses on one word at a time. Some popular books are: Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown, Curious George by H.A. Ray, or There’s A Monster Under My Bed by James Howe.

Another way to teach that ABC’s that has been proven effective is to make letters with your children. Pick a letter for the day and make cookies or letters in play-dough. Even going outside in the sandbox and drawing the letter in the sand is an easy way to learn the ABC’s.

Of course, most everyone will tell you the best method to teach the ABC’s is to read. Make the time to sit down with your child and read. You can purchase alphabet books and focus on reading them until your child has the ABC’s down. Reading numerous types of books will help your child to be exposed to different types of new words and understand their meanings.
Flashcards are another proven method for teaching the ABC’s. Not every child responds well to flash cards so be patient with your child to make sure this is the best method for them. Using animals to correspond with letters on the flash card is one of the best methods for teaching the ABC’s. Since most children can recognize animals, they are quick to pick up on letters that correspond to the animal.

Coloring letters is also a great way to teach the ABC’s. Have your child use a crayon that starts with the letter such as B for Blue or G for green and have them color in the letters with that color.

Just be sure to be patient. Your child can quickly become frusterated if you push too hard to teach them the ABC’s. Teach the ABC’s at your child’s pace and take time out of each day to sit down and read with your child.