Letter Knowledge

Letter knowledge means knowing the ABCs.

Children must learn the names of the letters of the alphabet and their shapes before they can start reading.

Children’s knowledge of letter names and shapes is a strong predictor of their success in learning to read. Knowing letter names is strongly related to children’s ability to remember the forms of written words. It helps their ability to treat words as sequences of letters.

Watch and Learn

Meet the Letters

Watch these videos with your child to get to know each letter of the alphabet! Find more letter videos here.

Teach Letters in Everyday Moments

Letters are everywhere! Learn how to use everyday moments with your child to teach the alphabet.

Captions and Languages

To watch videos with subtitles: Click the settings icon in the lower right-hand corner, next click “subtitles,” and then “English.”

To see subtitles in another language, after selecting English, click on subtitles again, then click “auto-translate” and select the language of your choice.

Try These Activities

Determine What Letters They Know

Be aware of the letters and letter sounds your child knows. This can be as simple as writing down the alphabet on a small piece of paper or a chart like this and making a check next to the letters your child shows they can recognize. Put a smiley face next to the letter if they can tell you the sound and a squiggly line if they know how to write it.

Use Everyday Moments

Point: Ask your child to find letters in written text. For example, “Can you point to the letter M?”

Say: Point to a letter you find in a store or a book and ask, “What’s this letter’s name?”

ABCs Hunt

Search for a word with the letter “a” in it around the house, while driving in the car, or shopping at the grocery store. Try to find all 26 letters!

Say the Letter Game

Click on each letter on this Starfall page and say the letter name.

Start with Their Name

Names are the most meaningful words for children, so start with having your child learn the letters and sounds of their name.

Talk about the child’s letter, for example, “Look Mia! I see your letter M, mmmmmmm, on that sign that says “Motorcycles”. Then have them learn the names of their siblings and favorite friends.

Mystery Bag Letters

Choose a “Target Letter” to focus your child on learning
Write the “target letter” on several flashcards and then write several other letters on flashcards
Put all of the cards in a “mystery bag”
Have your child give you thumbs up if the letter you pull out matches the target letter

Magnetic Letter Matching

Use a sharpie to write a capital letters on a piece of paper
Put magnetic letters in a bowl
Have your child match the letters while naming them

Trace It

Use a plate and pour some rice or cornmeal for kids to trace a letter with their finger, then say its name and sound. Gently shake the rice on the plate to “erase”. Make sure to show them the letter first, so they can copy the shape.

Chalk Letters

Match: Chalk Letters

Use chalk to write several capital letters on one side
Then mix up and write the lowercase letters on the other side
Have your child draw a line to match

Point: Chalk Letters

Write letters on the ground
Ask your child to point to each letter
Have your child take water on a paintbrush and trace over the letter while naming it