Focusing on letter sounds with toddlers and preschoolers can be a daunting task for parents … or it can be quite easy. Today, I have a simple, easily rotated activity that you can use to teach letter sounds one at a time to toddlers and preschoolers.
Simple, Easily Rotated Activity to Teach Letter Sounds – YouTube Video
In this video, my daughter, Christina, tells about a simple way we focus on individual letters with my 2-year-old (almost 2 1/2 year old) granddaughter, Zoey (Christina’s niece). Zoey loves songs and rhymes, so this is perfect for her … and easy for me to prepare and rotate. We typically sing the songs and say the rhymes together (and have LOTS OF FUN doing it). For the video, Zoey wanted to demonstrate the songs and rhymes herself. She’s TOO CUTE!!!
Materials Needed to Prepare Individual Letter Books to Go with Sandpaper Letters
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links (at no cost to you).
- Montessori sandpaper letters or DIY sandpaper letters (or other tactile letters)
- small tabletop easels or basket for letter and book
- free printable little letter books (26 books of songs and rhymes) from The Measured Mom
- the letter book used in the video with assembly instructions
- cardstock (the exact type can vary, but this is what I use)
- paper cutter
- long reach stapler
More about Our Individual Letter Sound Process (shown in video)
Christina Telling about Our Simple Letter Sound Activity
Here Christina is showing how we feature our letter. A basket could be used instead.
Saying the Letter Sound While Tracing the Sandpaper Letter
First, we say the phonetic sound and trace the sandpaper letter while snuggling on the couch. We formally introduce a sandpaper letter at a table, but this is a casual, at-home activity that we do on the couch.
Having fun with “Baa, Baa, Black Sheep” Song and the Little Bb Book
Then we sing the songs and say the rhymes (typically together). If your child just wants to listen, that’s okay, too.
How to Teach Letter Sounds to Toddlers and Preschoolers
You really don’t need to focus specifically on teaching letter sounds using sandpaper letters until about age 2 1/2, although you should always follow your own child’s interests and needs.
My post (with embedded video) on teaching letter sounds will give a good background on introducing the individual sounds, including how to pronounce each sound.
You’ll find many more phonics activities for both toddlers and preschools in my DIY beginning Montessori phonics post.
Note: In case you’re wondering, Zoey’s clothes (and jewelry) are from Gymboree.
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Ayan Shire says
April 8, 2016 at 9:17 amYour granddaughter is so cute. I loved hearing her sweet voice in the video. I am trying to put together my tot-school activities for next year and these ideas are great. Thank you for sharing them :).
Ruth says
April 10, 2016 at 7:32 pmDeb, I thank you for the link to the books. My just-turned 3 daughter will love them because she loves poems and rhymes. One question, and maybe if I read the other posts you have on introducing sounds you’ll address this.
I’ve always heard that it’s best to introduce the lower case letters before the capitals because when a child reads they see lower case letters much more often than capital letters. Yet, I’ve found most materials introducing letters have the capital letters–including those wonderful free printable books! What are your thoughts on this? I’m not a trained teacher and looking for materials for my first daughter, who is just turned 3.
I could be under estimating how fast children can associate two symbols with the same sound. What are your thoughts and experiences relating to talking about the letters and how / when to introduce “capital” vs. “lower” case letter. Would you just skip that page of those books on finding the upper case letter until later when the child would know the letter? Or just have them learn both lower and upper at the same time?
Thank you!
Jae says
April 13, 2016 at 2:28 pmLearning so much from this! Thank you for sharing with us! I featured your post in our Learn & Play Link Up this week. Join us again! – Jae, the Pinay Homeschooler