10 Best Toys to teach your child the alphabet
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When I buy toys for my children, I want to get things that are educational and fun! So I compiled a list of my preschoolers’ favorite toys that also help them learn the alphabet. Keep in mind that these toys grow with your child, so you can buy them as early as 1 year-old. As your child advances, you can create different activities to do with the toys.
1. Spot-It
Spot-it is an amazing game that all children will like to play once they understand it. Two or more players have to find the common object on both of the cards. The first person that “spots it” gets to keep the card. It’s a great game for letter recognition as your child gets older, and helps them to improve their memory and visual skills.
The Sit and Stand Train is geared towards younger children and teaches the alphabet in a fun way. First, they can ride on the train. Once they start standing, it can change into a push along walker. It comes with 10 activities including a storybook, clock, gears, and of course alphabet letters. I liked this toy because it grows along with your child and is an awesome head-start in learning the alphabet.
My twins love Sesame Street so anything that goes along with it, they have to have it. Elmo’s On the Go Letters allow children to take their letters with them wherever they go. Similar to a puzzle, just snap the letter into the case. Underneath each letter there is a picture that corresponds to the letter. It also has a space to spell out simple words as your child’s vocabulary grows.
The LeapFrog Fridge Phonics Magnetic Letter set is one of my twins’ favorites. It includes 26 alphabet tiles that are magnetic, so you can use them on any magnetic surface. When you put the letters inside the toy, it sings, says letter names, and letter sounds. Phonics are important for young children to learn so this toy helps children understand that the letters make sounds. It also plays popular songs that your child will love to listen to.
We actually have two or three (I lost count) of the Munchkin Letters and Numbers toys. They are so helpful and can be used for so many games. Besides practicing letter and number recognition in the bathtub, you can also use them to play sight word games. This is my go-to add on gift for new moms because there are so many uses for this toy.
6. Melissa & Doug 52 Wooden Alphabet Magnets in a Box - Uppercase and Lowercase Letters
The Alphabet Magnets are unique in alphabet toys in that they also include lowercase letters. I do not teach lowercase letters until my children fully recognize all of the uppercase letters. Since the letters are magnetic, you can use them on any magnetic surface or even a cookie tray. As your child begins to learn sight words, use the letters to spell out simple words and have her read them.
We actually have three of these Leaptops. First, my children love to pretend to “work” like me. But besides acting like they are typing, they love to hear the Leaptop talk to them. You can go online to customize it so your child can practice spelling their own name. My children also like to send and read pretend emails from their favorite Leapfrog characters. It has four learning modes including the alphabet, games, messages, and music. In the alphabet mode, once you press a letter it also has a picture that comes on the screen. It is a good visual tool for a child to begin to remember what words start with what letters.
8. LeapFrog Scribble and Write
As your child gets older, the Scribble and Write helps them to learn letter formation and practice fine motor skills. It’s a simple game that is a lot of fun. The letter lights up on the screen and the child traces the lights. After they finish tracing, they can see the letter they wrote. Since it isn’t paper, your child can practice over and over again. The Scribble and Write gives practice in writing uppercase and lowercase letters, as well as numbers. It’s also designed for left and right-handed children, and gives verbal feedback after they write.
The See-Inside Alphabet Peg puzzle is an educational toy for learning the alphabet. Underneath each puzzle piece there is a picture that starts with that letter. This puzzle also helps with fine motor skills as your child places the piece back into the puzzle.
The VTech Alphabet Apple is an amazing toy that grows along with your child. There are different modes so that as your child gets more advanced, the games challenge them as well. The VTech Alphabet Apple has alphabet buttons that you push in order to hear the letter. Not only does it say each letter, but it also says the sounds of the letter (great for learning to read), teaches words, time, and plays music. As a bonus, it has a clock on the apple and introduces children to time. The VTech Alphabet Apple also plays 29 different songs and lights up when the buttons are pressed. It is a fun and interactive toy for learning the alphabet.
Toys are a great way for your child to continue learning the alphabet, even when you aren’t directly teaching it to them. Learning the alphabet should be an enjoyable experience for your child. Alphabet toys help to reinforce the alphabet skills that you are already doing with your child.
By using toys to learn the alphabet, your child will begin to improve their kindergarten readiness skills and be prepared to enter school.
What is your child’s favorite alphabet toy? Leave a comment below.