Letters and Sounds
Here's What To Do
Make a few letter cards using familiar letters and sounds. Show your child 2-4 letter cards.
Say a letter sound and ask them to point to or name the corresponding letter.
You can also sing the letters and sounds or use funny voices; race each other to see who can touch the letter card first; or place the cards around the room and go on a letter hunt.
Take turns leading the game so your child can ask you to find letters or sounds too.
Put PEER Into Action
Pause:
- Have your child lead you both in taking a few deep breaths or doing some stretches together before you begin.
Engage:
- “Point to the letter that makes the ___ sound.”
- “What sound does the letter ___ make?”
Encourage:
- Use two letters at a time. Review the letters and sounds first.
- Give your child clues. “It’s the letter with the straight lines and no curves.”
Reflect:
- “How many letters do you want us to use the next time we play?”
Not quite ready?
Instead of playing the game, introduce one or two letters and their sounds. Point them out when you see them around. Your child will become familiar with them over time.
Ready for more?
Introduce new letters and sounds. Then, introduce other sounds for letters such as the long vowel sounds when the vowel says its name (e.g. the A sound in “airplane”).
As your child masters this skill...
They will be able to provide letter sounds for some letters.