Want to have some fun using alphabet books with your little kid?
This is such a traditional way to learn your letters... sitting on Mommy's lap with an alphabet picture book, batting the pages, repeating what's Mommy's saying, and slowly slowly forming an attachment in your mind between what you see on the page and the letter that Mom's teaching you.
You can use board books and vinyl padded books, lift-the-flap books - sturdy, colorful, interesting books that your child will want to read again and again!
Tips for using alphabet books
Collect a few different alphabet books for your child to look at. Variety is good! Some will have upper case alphabet letters, one to a page with a picture; others will have upper and lower case.
Little kids love repetition. Tots like to read the same books over and over again. You can happily read through the same book four or five times. Or more :)
Ask questions - find a book that has a page with all the letters of the alphabet on a page somewhere. Once your child is familiar with the alphabet letters, ask "Where's A? Where's P?" and so on.
Lift the flap alphabet books come in a variety of guises, with either letters or pictures hidden. Get your child to finish your sentences as you describe the page - "P is for... plum! Well done! Where are the plums? Under P!" Make each page a conversation between you and your child as you look at the book together.
Got two alphabet books you can use together? Take a book each, then open your books to letter A... then in slow motion to letter B... C.... then again, comparing pictures or words.
More ideas
Bath book fun If you can find a vinyl padded (waterproof) bath book with the alphabet, you can play alphabet games in the bathtub! Turn the pages in the water, find D for Duckie, B for Bubble... then sing the alphabet song while splashing about!
Make your own alphabet scrapbook You need to do a little preparation first, or your little one will lose interest quickly!
Prepare:
A scrapbook with enough pages/space for the alphabet and some pictures. Or a loose leaf binder for more flexibility, if you think this would suit your child
Alphabet letter cutouts - either printables or from magazines etc - or you and your child can write each letter in together
Pictures, stickers, or items - one for each letter of the alphabet! You can prepare one item per letter, then add more pictures and so on later if they will fit
Paste, tape, colors, kid safe scissors if your child can use them
This makes a nice afternoon activity when there's nothing urgent to be done with the housework! And if your child is careful about using their scrapbook, you can make additions to it if you find something interesting at a later stage.
