A letter hunt is a fun, simple and effective way to practice letter recognition outside of the classroom. To play, locate a letter around you and ask your child to identify it. Then ask them to make the letter’s sound.

Watch Keira and Caralyn play in our Show Me How video, read our tips below, and then try it yourself! Feel free to change up the rules as you go by incorporating different challenges and questions.

Context

Reciting the alphabet is an exciting step towards literacy, but it’s equally important to understand how to visually identify letters, and how to use them in context. Letter hunts can help early learners develop a first-hand understanding of how the alphabet works in the real world.

When kids recognize that letters are all around us, and not only in books, they begin to understand how powerful they really are. This is an important step towards literacy.

Play Anywhere

Like Keira says: “Letters are everywhere!” Start incorporating this game into your daily routine. Whether you’re taking a short walk to the store, driving over to grandma’s or taking a long family trip, there’s always opportunities to play. And the best part: no setup or cleanup required!

And speaking of trips – using your surroundings for games like this can even help young children grow more comfortable in new environments that may be a bit intimidating at first.

Change It Up

Change up the rules as you go! This will help keep kids on their toes, and hopefully keep them excited and inspired to play. Try incorporating time limits or even make it a friendly competition. Ideally, kids will start taking the initiative to play on their own, and encourage you to join in the fun.

Whatever the rules or location, this game makes for a terrific learning and bonding experience!

Share With Us!

Have you tried a letter hunt with your family? What other literacy games do you play? Share your thoughts, questions and comments with us using #mothergooseclub on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Mother Goose Club education experts carefully crafted this curriculum-based eBook to support you when your child is learning to read.

Joyful Learning

It’s exciting when children start learning the alphabet, and singing and dancing along to our alphabet songs is a great place to begin.

But memorization alone doesn’t mean your child will understand what letters mean, and the amazing ways they can be used. To help your child understand the sounds, words, meanings and visuals associated with letters, it’s important to also make time for alphabet books.

Expand Vocabulary

“A Is for Alphabet” introduces 28 new vocabulary words in simple and repetitive rhyming sentences to help children prepare for reading and build confidence.

Explore the musicality of the text and play matching games with rhyming words depicted in the context-rich illustrations.

Parents, Try Our Tips

Before diving in, head to the Tips page for a simple guide on using this alphabet book. These tips will help make the experience an effective and joyful one for parents and children.

There’s a Video Too!

Expand vocabulary, letter recognition and rhyming practice by singing along to the “A Is for Alphabet” video, based on the book you just read. Watch the characters come to life!

More Reading Resources

This book is a great companion to “apple to zebra“, our lowercase-themed book, and “ANT BAT CAT“, our uppercase-themed book. And browse even more free resources here!

As always, stay tuned for more updates. Happy reading!

Mother Goose Club education experts carefully crafted this curriculum-based eBook to support you when your child is learning to read.

Joyful Learning

It’s exciting when children start learning the alphabet, and singing and dancing along to our alphabet songs is a great place to begin.

But memorization alone doesn’t mean your child will understand what letters mean, and the amazing ways they can be used. To help your child understand the sounds, words, meanings and visuals associated with letters, it’s important to also make time for alphabet books.

Explore Uppercase Letters & Sounds

“ANT BAT CAT” uses only uppercase letters to maximize learning and minimize distractions. While reading the uppercase letters, add 27 two-syllable words to your child’s vocabulary.

Enjoy getting lost in the vibrant illustrations and the conversations they spark!

Parents, Try Our Tips

Before diving in, head to the Tips page for a simple guide on using this alphabet book. These tips will help make the experience an effective and joyful one for parents and children.

There’s a Video Too!

Reinforce uppercase letter-learning by singing along to the “ANT BAT CAT” video, based on the book you just read. Watch the characters come to life!

More Reading Resources

Pair this with our lowercase-themed book, “apple to zebra“. And browse more free resources here!

As always, stay tuned for more updates. Happy reading!

Mother Goose Club education experts carefully crafted this curriculum-based eBook to support you when your child is learning to read.

Joyful Learning

It’s exciting when children start learning the alphabet, and singing and dancing along to our alphabet songs is a great place to begin.

But memorization alone doesn’t mean your child will understand what letters mean, and the amazing ways they can be used. To help your child understand the sounds, words, meanings and visuals associated with letters, it’s important to also make time for alphabet books.

Explore Lowercase Letters & Sounds

“apple to zebra” uses only lowercase letters to maximize learning and minimize distractions. While reading the lowercase letters, add 26 two-syllable words to your child’s vocabulary.

Along the way, meet some new and comical characters!

Parents, Try Our Tips

Before diving in, head to the Tips page for a simple guide on using this alphabet book. These tips will help make the experience an effective and joyful one for parents and children.

There’s a Video Too!

Reinforce lowercase letter-learning by singing along to the “apple to zebra” video, based on the book you just read. Watch the characters come to life!

More Reading Resources

Pair this with our uppercase-themed book, “ANT BAT CAT“. And browse more free resources here!

As always, stay tuned for more updates. Happy reading!

Practice Lowercase Letters:

A lot of videos and toys focus only on uppercase letters, but it’s never too early to start on lowercase. Gain exposure to lowercase letters with “apple to zebra“. This silly animation takes us inside the pages of a lowercase alphabet book featuring bright and happy characters, lowercase letters and two-syllable vocabulary words. Since the song features a call and response style, it’s easy to model how to sing along for your child.

Practice Uppercase Letters:

Practice your uppercase letters with “ANT BAT CAT“, featuring a group of beautifully designed, texture-rich animated characters. The song video’s lyrics introduce each letter and a one syllable word that’s repeated five times.

Practice Phonics:

Practice consonant sounds in “Letters Do Things“. This animation features a catchy tune and a silly cast of characters that call themselves the “letter crew”. Watch B bake, J jump, T tap and much more. Talk about what else the letter crew can do!

Learn With Movement:

“ABC Dance With Me” features an adorable conga-line of characters, each with a fun and unique dance for every letter of the alphabet. Music and movement are proven to inspire deeper learning and boost memorization. Show us your best bunny hop, robot and ninja kicks!

Repetition, Repetition, Repetition:

“ABC Song With Eep the Mouse” takes us through the alphabet song four times with lowercase and uppercase letters. Repetition is so important for early learners and absolutely essential to their understanding that letter names represent symbols with sounds. Wherever your child is in their journey to understanding the alphabet, they can’t go wrong singing along with Eep in this fun and colorful video!

Share With Us!

What are your tips and tricks for teaching the alphabet? What other Mother Goose Club videos have helped your early learner? Reach out on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter using #mothergooseclub!