When preschool children are learning the alphabet, learning it through games is often far more effective than other methods. Alphabet games can help teach kids letters, while they are having fun. It is a great way to help them master their alphabet skills, and apply them. It is a no pressure situation for learning the alphabet, and pre-reading skills that will give them confidence and ability for the rest of their academic career.
The following are some great sources for alphabet games:
Online games:
One of the easiest places to get alphabet games is online. The Internet is a great place for finding just about anything, including games that teach alphabet skills. For preschool age kids, and even older kids who need to reinforce their alphabet skills try this site, PlayKidsGames.com.
Play kids games offers a variety of alphabet games to interest any number of kids, regardless of their interests. They have Alphabet Whac-A-Mole, where they tell you a letter, and you have to whack the moles that come up with those letters.
There are all kinds of alphabet games on this site, including the: Spring Bee, River Fish, and even a classic Go Fishing game that lets you fish for certain letters.
Alphabet Fun! is another site for alphabet games, as it teaches sets of alphabet lessons. There are different games attached to each set of lessons, so that you can play fun games as your progress with your alphabet skills.
Matching games:
Another great alphabet game is any alphabet matching game. For example, you can create a set of letters, one with uppercase and lowercase letters, so that a match would include the uppercase version and lowercase version. The next kind of matching game is the most basic of basics, where you match letter with letter. Another way to have a matching alphabet game is to match letter with picture that starts with letter. This teaches kids the sounds associated with the letters as well as the letters themselves.
You can alter this game to the education level of the kid who is playing it. If your child is not very familiar with the letters yet, you can just do letters. If they know the letters, but need extra help with the sounds, then matching letters with words that start with them, and help them learn the sounds is a great idea.
Home made alphabet games:
Of course, you can also create other homemade alphabet games. You can create whatever kind of game your child loves best, and make it an alphabet game. You can make a puzzle out of the alphabet and have them put it together, you can create a tic-tac-toe board that alphabet letters, and they have to create a word to get the win. Be creative, or find ways to adapt games they already love into alphabet games.