8 Simple Alphabet Activities to Practice your Child's ABCs

One of the simplest yet most important things you can do to help your child's development is to practice their ABCs at home. Alphabet activities help little ones learn the basic building blocks of language and begin to understand how letters form words. They also give your child a chance to practice their letter recognition and learn the sound each letter makes.

The good news is alphabet activities don't have to be complicated. The simplest activities are often the most effective. Here are eight easy alphabet activities that you can do with your child at home to help them practice their ABCs:

Make homemade letter cards

Cut out large letters from construction paper or cardstock and write the corresponding letter sound underneath each one. Then let your child practice matching the letters and sounds by playing a memory game or placing the letters in order from A-Z. You can also use these cards to play I Spy games, where your child has to find a specific letter amongst a group of other objects.

String beads onto yarn to make an ABC necklace

This is a great activity for fine motor skill development. Simply cut out 26 small strips of paper, each with a different alphabet letter written on it. Then help your child string beads onto yarn or string, alternating between letters and beads. Once they're done, they can wear their necklace as a reminder to practice their ABCs throughout the day.

Play Letter Hunt

This activity is an excellent way to practice letter recognition and learn about letter sounds at the same time. Write out a list of words (you can use simple three-letter words to start) on small slips of paper. Mix up the slips of paper and spread them out face down on the floor or table. Take turns flipping over the slips of paper one at a time and saying the word aloud. If the word starts with the sound the player is hunting for, they can keep the paper. The player with the most papers at the end wins the game.

Practice writing letters in salt

This is a fun and easy way for your child to practice letter formation. Simply pour some salt onto a plate or tray and let your child write letters on it with their finger. You can also do this activity with sand, sugar, flour, or any other type of grain.

Play Alphabet Hopscotch

This is a great way to get your child up and moving while they practice their ABCs. Write the alphabet in order on slips of paper and tape them down in a hopscotch pattern on the floor. Then take turns throwing a small object (like a beanbag or small ball) onto the floor and hopping from letter to letter, saying the corresponding letter sounds as you go.

Make an ABC collage

This is a fun activity for little ones who are just learning their letters. Simply gather up some old magazines and cut out pictures of things that start with each letter of the alphabet. Then help your child glue the pictures onto a piece of construction paper or cardstock to make a collage. As they work, they'll practice their letter recognition and learn about each letter's different sounds.

Play Alphabet Bingo

This is a great way to practice letter recognition and fine motor skills at the same time. Cut out small circles from construction paper or cardstock and write a different letter of the alphabet on each one. Then, place all of the circles into a bag or hat. Take turns drawing a circle from the bag and placing it in the corresponding space on your Bingo card. If you don't have a Bingo card, you can make one by drawing a grid of squares on a piece of paper. The first person to get five in a row (horizontally, vertically, or diagonally) wins.

Do an Alphabet Scavenger Hunt

Write out a list of objects that start with each letter of the alphabet (you can find ideas online or in magazines). Then, help your child search for the objects around the house or backyard. As they find each object, they'll practice their letter recognition and learn about each letter's different sounds.

There are endless ways to practice the ABCs with your child - these are just a few you can try! Mix things up and try a new activity each day, or focus on one activity until your child has mastered it. Most importantly, have fun and let your child lead the way!

At Mrs. Myers' Learning Lab, we specialize in fun, interactive classes for developing readers. Our engaging process leads to students gaining self-confidence, interpersonal skills, and a love for learning that extends far beyond the classroom. Visit us to learn more!