Recognizing letters sets a foundation for successfully learning to read. A step-by-step approach and a variety of activities help children build this key skill.

Within our research-based curriculum at Head Start, we begin by teaching children to recognize the letters in their first name, since those are the letters they likely see most often.

By age 4 children can often identify many letters of the alphabet and by age 5, they may start to associate letters with sounds. However, each child is an individual and will learn at their own pace.
Letter recognition and learning has four components—letter recognition, letter naming, letter-sound knowledge, and letter writing.

Letter recognition, also known as alphabet recognition, is the ability to identify letters by name, shape, and sound. It is a pre-reading skill that is important for literacy and reading comprehension.

Letter naming is the ability to recognize the shape of a letter and associate it with its name. It is an early literacy skill that is a strong predictor of a child’s future reading success.

Letter-sound knowledge, or the alphabetic principle, is understanding that letters represent the sounds of spoken language.

Letter writing refers to the ability to write or trace a letter.

Building skills in letter recognition requires practice and Head Start employs a variety of activities that you can also do at home.

• Sing the alphabet song. Remember, singing the song doesn’t mean your child will recognize letters yet.
• Read books about letters.
• Use magnetic letters.
• Build letters with items like popsicle sticks, pipe cleaners, or playdough.
• Play a matching game with upper and lowercase letters.
• Organize a letter scavenger hunt by hiding letters around the room/house and having your child find them and identify them.
• Use kinetic sand, salt or clay to form and write letters.

Don’t forget, you have access to Ready Rosie videos on literacy and letter recognition. These are short video vignettes of simple activities you can do at home with your child. This is a FREE resource that all Head Start families can access. If you’re not certain how to use it, talk to your child’s teacher.

We encourage families to make letter recognition a fun and hands-on experience, as it is more meaningful for your child than worksheets or flashcards.