To Teach or not teach Toddlers The Alphabet?
by Shamla Naleer
EVERY CHILD IS UNIQUE.
It is extremely important to know and understand that every child is different. Some kids learn the letters and numbers earlier than the other kids. The alphabet is learned in phases, and some children learn it later than others. If your kid is 3 and is unable to recognize letters or numbers in an orderly manner, this is fine. Kids sometimes won't learn them until they are four years old. Don't force kids to learn something just because the other kids seem to have learnt it effortlessly.
Toddlers on Technology: A Parents' Guide refers to the book Brain Rules for Babies written by Professor John Medina where he states "the brain's first job is not to learn, but to survive. If a two-year-old child is being pushed by a parent to learn the alphabet or rattle off "one plus one is two," that child will master those facts, especially if he thinks the love of a parent or his own well-being hangs in the balance. But the consequences can often be severe: you may see anxiety, depression or a child turned off from learning altogether.", therefore, don't force; instead, encourage them.
According to a study conducted by The National Early Literacy Panel, there is a strong correlation between the early knowledge of alphabets and success in being able to read later in life.
NOW DON'T PANIC!
This doesn't mean your toddler needs to recognize letters before preschool, it is the "knowledge" that matters so you could focus on other skills and activities that can help them learn their ABCs successfully.
Visual Discrimination: Teach your kids to identify straight lines, curvy lines, tall letters, short letters, etc. which will help them learn and categorize letters based on how they look, rather than just teaching them sounds or a song. Singing the alphabet song and knowing the alphabet are two different skills.
Stories and Books: Get your kids interested in simple books. Books give them the awareness of the different prints and help them in recognizing letters by shapes, eventually letting them assign sounds to the letters.
Make learning fun: Instead of making learning a serious, sit down activity, make it fun. Resources like puzzles, magnets, clay moulding or writing can be ways to help kids learn without making them feel like they're studying. You could also play games that encourage the kids to learn their ABCs.
Reading aloud: Children who are exposed to a variety of languages perform better in school and one of the best ways to hear language is to read aloud to them. Reading to toddlers lays the groundwork for independent reading later on. It helps them know the letters of the alphabet, and also aids them to cultivate a broad vocabulary of words and how to utilize them.
Will my toddler who has already learnt the alphabet be bored in the classroom?
A child's disinterest in the classroom could be a result of more than just knowing the alphabet. However, knowing the alphabet can contribute to the disinterest in class as they aren't being challenged. It is important not to jump to conclusions that your child is "gifted"; instead communicate with the educators about navigating classroom activities in a way that suits your kid. After all, learning is a journey and not a destination.
Preschool is more than just academically preparing the kids for the future. Play, group work, time management, communication, etc. are also important skills your child will learn at preschool. With constant exposure to letters and sounds, your child will eventually pick up the alphabet - sometimes a lot earlier than most kids and sometimes later than the rest. However, that doesn't make you a bad parent. Avoid comparing your child's journey to the other kids and focus on catering to the capabilities of your child. Instead of forcing them to learn letters and numbers, make learning fun and let the child learn at their own pace.