Palak Vyas

Around the age of 2, most kids start showing interest in learning alphabets. You can use the following learning methods for your child: <ol><li>Singing the alphabet song: You can sing the alphabet songs for them and gradually they will learn to sing with you. You can also play action song on alphabets or just play audio whenever they are playing around. Children love to sing and dance along and that's how they learn things quickly.</li><li>Reading all alphabet books that you can find: The more you repeat, the more they repeat with you and the better is the learning. Provide them with different alphabet books so they don’t get bored with reading the same one. Make sure that the books show different things for one alphabet. Example: Not all books should contain “A for Apple”; “A for aeroplane”, “A for almond”, and so on should be included in the books. This will help your child in the long run.</li><li>Tracing the letters: Books for tracing the letters are readily available in the market. A child uses his/her fingers to trace the letters. The letter cards tell the child where to start and in which direction to trace. You can make such cards at home too. To make it interesting, help your child dip their finger in watercolour and then trace the letters.</li><li>Make alphabet shapes with your child using sand on a flat surface.</li><li>Use clay to make alphabet shapes with your child. This will improve their fine motor skills and sense of touch along with learning alphabets.</li><li>ABC cookies, ABC pancakes are also available in the market.</li></ol> Important Note: If the child knows the alphabet names, it becomes easy for them to learn the sounds of letters. Always start with teaching upper case letters because they are easier than the lower case ones.

Every child learns on its own pace. You can slowly introduce your child to new concepts but never be impatient to teach them everything at once.

Teaching alphabets to children

You can use simple day to day activities and conversations to teach your child maths in an interesting way: <ul><li>Teach your child numbers and then counting numbers: Each child learns at his or her own pace and they can learn it through different activities and ways. There cannot be comparison between two kids. You can use objects which we use in our day to day life. Like use buttons, pennies, books, fruits, cars, toys, blocks, chalk colours, etc. Ask them to count apples, oranges and bananas; this will widen their vision of counting and correlating different objects.</li><li>Play math games: Maths can be a fun subject to learn when you correlate and incorporate it into your daily activities. You can ask them various questions in general so it doesn’t feel like boring study time but make it a part of conversation.</li><li>Frame easy questions that revolve around his/her world: such as how many soft toys do you have, let's arrange them in a line and count. When you buy veggies ask him/her to count money for you. If you are to give 20 rupees you can ask him/her to give you 2 notes of 10 rupees. Keep it as simple as you can in the beginning. Ask him/her to bring spoons for all the family members at lunch. Ask them to show you six fingers of their hands.</li><li>Cutting cakes and pizzas: While cutting cakes and pizzas, you can teach them division, addition and subtraction too. They can learn the concept of halves and fourths and eighths. You can ask them how they can share a cake equally into all four members of the family and introduce the concept of division. You can add two halves and show them how it becomes one. Likewise you can keep experimenting and see what goes fine with your child.</li><li>Flash card: Once you have taught them counting you can make flash cards. Keep the question cards with you and give them answer cards. For example, you have a card showing 2+2 and they will show you a card with number 4.</li><li>Make maths a daily activity: Incorporate it into your routine. Ask questions while communicating with them.</li></ul>“How many lights are there at this signal?”“How many trees are there in our backyard?”“Can you tell me the number of doors and windows in our house?”Likewise keep framing simple questions.

Many children dread maths. But with a few interesting steps, your child can learn mathematics in a fun way.

Making mathematics interesting for kids

Children learn at a different pace, so your child may hit the ABC milestone early or a little later than other kids. | Parenting Concerns

When should I start to teach the alphabet to my child?

2-3 years is a good age to teach letters to kids but don’t expect full mastery for a while. Also, it depends on your kid’s interest. Children learn at a different pace, so your child may hit the ABC milestone early or a little later than other kids. Moreover, it is important not to stress your toddler to learn the alphabet if he/she doesn’t seem interested. Early childhood is more about learning important life skills like social skills, acceptance or mindfulness.

right age to teach alphabets to my child

Teaching alphabets to children

Making mathematics interesting for kids

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