Preschoolers learn best through play, and the alphabet is no exception. These activities take just a few minutes and use everyday things around the house.
A tip before you start: focus on the letter's sound as well as its name. Knowing that b says /b/ is what helps children start reading later on.
1. Letter of the day
Pick one letter each day. Say its name and sound, trace it in the air, and find three things around the house that start with it. Our Alphabet Tracing Worksheets have a page for every letter from A to Z if you'd like a printable to go with it.
2. Name letters first
Start with the letters in your child's name — they're the most meaningful letters in the world to them! Write their name on a card and match magnet letters to it.
3. Sensory tray writing
Pour a thin layer of salt, sand or flour on a baking tray. Your child traces letters with a finger, then shakes the tray to erase. It's great for little hands that aren't ready for pencils yet.
4. Alphabet scavenger hunt
Hide letter cards or magnets around a room. As your child finds each one, they say the letter and its sound.
5. Colour and talk
Colouring pages are perfect for quiet time. While your child colours, chat about the letter and the picture: 'A is for alligator — /a/, /a/, alligator!' The Animal Alphabet Coloring Pages pair every letter with a friendly animal.
6. Play-dough letters
Roll 'snakes' of play-dough and shape them into letters. Curvy letters like S and C are a fun challenge.
7. I spy with sounds
Instead of colours, play 'I spy something that starts with /m/'. This builds the listening skills children need for reading.
8. Sing the alphabet — slowly
The ABC song is a classic for a reason, but children often blur 'L-M-N-O-P' into one sound. Sing it slowly while pointing to each letter. You can sing along with bouncing lyrics on our free Sing Along page.
9. Letter matching
Match uppercase to lowercase letters using cards, magnets or our free printable Letter Matching sheet in the Kids Zone activities.
10. Quick screen-time practice
If your child enjoys a tablet, choose something calm and ad-free. In our Alphabet Adventure game, children match letters to pictures across three levels — capital letters, lowercase letters and first sounds — and earn stars as they go.
How long should alphabet practice last?
For preschoolers, five to ten minutes is plenty. Stop while your child is still having fun, and come back tomorrow. Little and often is the secret.
What comes after the alphabet?
Once your child knows most letter sounds, they're ready to start blending simple words. Read our guide to CVC words for the next step.
