Teaching children the alphabet is a big step in their educational journey. Learning the alphabet lays the groundwork for reading and writing, and really most formal academics. But where do you begin, and what’s the most effective way to help little ones grasp the letters of the alphabet?
This blog post explores how to teach the alphabet to kids, including when and how to introduce letter recognition and formation. I’m also sharing the unique Montessori-inspired sequence used in Treehouse Story School: Preschool, plus 10 simple, hands-on activities to make alphabet learning fun and effective for your child.
In this blog post:
- How to help children learn the alphabet
- What order to teach the alphabet to children
- 10 simple alphabet learning activities for preschoolers
- Try a free week of Treehouse Story School: Preschool
- Alphabet learning tools for children from Treehouse Schoolhouse
How to help children learn the alphabet
Teaching children the alphabet begins with letter recognition and then progresses into letter formation over time. Letter recognition is the ability to identify the letters in the alphabet in three ways: by name, by shape, and by sound. Letter formation is the ability to form letters of the alphabet.
First, we start only with alphabet recognition. I like to begin with the letters in our children’s names because I have found these letters mean something to the child and so children are excited to learn them. I usually introduce the letter sounds, along with uppercase and lowercase simultaneously, but many people choose to focus on sounds first, then uppercase, and then move to lowercase.
When children are ready to begin letter formation, I offer hands-on, interactive, and fun ways for them to form letters, before ever needing the fine motor strength to properly hold a writing instrument. Some of these activities are writing letters in the sand or dirt with a stick or their finger, shaping letters out of playdough, walking along masking tape letters on the floor, and using wax sticks to form letters.
What order to teach the alphabet to children
There are many methods to teach the alphabet to children. Children learn the alphabet at different rates depending on their age, developmental stage, and individual interest and readiness.
You may choose to teach the alphabet starting with the letters in your child’s name, or by teaching letter sounds that are easy to make, such as continuous sounds like “s” and “m.” Some teach the alphabet by starting with letters that are the most common, or by teaching letters related to a theme.
Montessori alphabet order in Treehouse Story School: Preschool
I believe that early literacy development should be intentional, engaging, and meaningful for young children.
In Treehouse Story School: Preschool, our approach to teaching the alphabet is carefully designed around an evidence-based sequence that reflects the frequency of letters in written language and common use in everyday life. This ensures that a child is introduced to the most relevant and useful letters first, creating a natural and intuitive learning experience. This sequence is considered a Montessori approach, as it focuses on learning in a way that connects to everyday life.
The journey begins with personal connections. Learning the alphabet starts with the child’s own name. By focusing on the letters in their name, a child develops a sense of ownership and relevance, making the learning experience both personal and motivating. This initial focus helps children recognize letters in a familiar context, setting a foundation for further exploration.
The curriculum gradually progresses through the alphabet, each week carefully planned to coordinate with the themes taught that week. Each step includes opportunities for children to make meaningful connections between the written letters and their appearances in everyday life, such as signs, labels, and environmental print.
Our sequence is designed not only to teach letter recognition and formation, but also to foster a love of reading and curiosity about words. We provide an inviting environment that encourages children to experiment and explore language at their own pace. When ready, children are gently guided toward beginning reading skills, making transitions smooth and confidence-building.
This thoughtful, intentional approach ensures a child develops strong literacy foundations and a lifelong joy for reading, all within a playful and supportive setting that honors their individual learning paths.
Unlike traditional alphabetical order, the letters are presented in an intentional sequence based on their frequency in written language and everyday life. This means the letters children are most likely to encounter in stories, signs, and daily reading are introduced first. This approach helps children recognize and connect to the letters they see most often. Additionally, the sequence is designed to support children who are ready to start blending letters into words more quickly, giving them a practical foundation for early word-building and phonetic awareness.
For more details on how the alphabet is introduced to children in Treehouse Story School: Preschool, download this free curriculum sample to read about the curriculum scope and see the order that the letters of the alphabet are introduced.
Moving beyond alphabet recognition
To determine when a child is ready to move beyond initial recognition, I encourage you to observe their engagement and confidence with letter activities. Some children may benefit from focusing solely on recognizing and forming uppercase letters throughout the entire year, as this can serve as a solid foundation for literacy skills. Others may show signs of readiness to explore both uppercase and lowercase letters simultaneously or in a phased manner. Signs of readiness include improved letter identification, increased interest in letter-related activities, and the ability to distinguish between uppercase and lowercase forms confidently. They may begin to notice the letters they know in the books you read together or in the world around them.
Remember, it’s perfectly okay to do activities while your child observes to expose them to the letters or skip learning activities that don’t suit your child’s current needs. This flexible approach allows you to tailor your child’s learning experience to their developmental pace, building confidence and a love for learning.
10 simple alphabet learning activities for preschoolers
Beginning Sound Box
Gather household items that begin with the focus letter. Place the items in a small box or container. Play a guessing game by giving clues about each item, such as what it looks like or is used for. Remind children of the letter sound the item begins with. When your child guesses correctly, allow them to hold the item. Repeat this process until all items are guessed. (Treehouse Story School: Preschool includes a list of household items for every letter of the alphabet!)
Ordering letters of your child’s name
Use a moveable alphabet or alphabet cards to put the letters in your child’s name in the correct order and say each letter. Then, mix them up and help your child put them back in order. Expose your child to both upper and lowercase as you play. Over time, see if your child can put the letters in the right order by themselves.
Watercolor name surprise
Write your child’s name on a piece of card stock or watercolor paper with a white crayon. Give them watercolors and invite them to paint to reveal their name on the paper.
Alphabet hopscotch
Write chalk letters all over a driveway or sidewalk. Include the letters in your child’s name. As they hop from letter to letter, identify the letter and its sound. Ask your child to name some.
Watercolor name tracing
Give your child watercolor paper, a paint brush, and watercolors. Write their first and last name in pencil. Ask them to trace each letter with watercolor. Try it in uppercase and lowercase.
Salt tray letter writing
Model how to write the letters of your child’s name in a salt tray. Show them both uppercase and lowercase and say the letter sounds as you form them. Give them a chance to try to write some letters or their entire name.
Jumping jack name spelling
Show your child how to do a jumping jack. Do jumping jacks together. With each jump, say a letter of their name and have them copy and repeat you. Say each letter until they have spelled their full name. Repeat a few times.
Chalk letter writing
Use a piece of chalk on a chalkboard or the driveway to form the uppercase and lowercase of a letter. Remind them of the letter sound as you write. Give your child a chance to try to form it.
Alphabet cards dance
Lay the Alphabet Cards of the letters you’ve learned so far around the room on the floor. Call out a letter and encourage the children to dance over to the matching card.
Water letter painting
Use water and a paintbrush to “paint” a letter onto a sidewalk or fence. As they paint, encourage the child to say the letter and sound aloud. Then add other letters they have earned and short words.
Try a free week of Treehouse Story School: Preschool
Are you curious how you can introduce the alphabet to your child in a gentle, organic way? Try a free week of Treehouse Story School: Preschool to see how your child can practice early learning and build a love of stories, plus early math learning, life skills, hand-rhymes, hands-on projects, and more.
Download a free week of Treehouse Story School: Preschool here.
Alphabet learning tools for children from Treehouse Schoolhouse
Looking for engaging ways to teach your children the letters of the alphabet? See our favorite intentional learning resources here. To see more of our favorite hands-on preschool learning tools, check out our Amazon storefront.
Treehouse Story School: Preschool
Treehouse Story School: Preschool is 32-weeks of gentle, literature-based curriculum designed for ages 2.5-5 years. This preschool curriculum that invites children to learn through the themes in stories they love. Each week will focus on a picture book, inviting children into connection and learning through music and movement, play-based narration, alphabet and number play, motor skills, practical life development, crafts, and baking together.
It would be a great fit for your toddler or preschooler if you are looking to incorporate multi-sensory, play-based learning while introducing them to timeless stories. From toddler through upper preschool, this curriculum can be used year after year as you dive deeper into beloved, classic stories your family will cherish. Preview a free week here.
Wonder of Nature Alphabet Print Cards
The Wonder of Nature Alphabet Print Cards were designed to offer young children a multi-sensory invitation to recognizing letters. The watercolor illustrations that coordinate with each letter of the alphabet teach early phonetic awareness by introducing them to beginning letter sounds. These beautiful cards can be displayed in your school room or used for hands-on learning activities like matching, sorting, and reading. See the full Wonder of Nature Collection here.
Wonder of Nature Alphabet Sheets
The Wonder of Nature Alphabet Sheets were designed to offer young children a multi-sensory invitation to recognizing, forming, and writing letters. The watercolor illustrations that coordinate with each letter of the alphabet teach early phonetic awareness by introducing them to beginning letter sounds. Slide these sheets into a restaurant menu cover or into dry-erase pouches so that your child can practice them again and again. Use dry-erase markers and wipe clean after each use. Download a free sample of the Letter A here.
