Pre-reading alphabet games are a fantastic way to help your child have confidence in their skills and abilities. Games will help children learn how to recognize the letters, the sounds that are attached to the letters, and more. It will be far easier for kids to learn the alphabet when they do it through games, as it will be less pressure, and more fun.
What kind of alphabet games should your child play? The answer to this question depends entirely on what level of learning your child is at. If you are just introducing your child to the letters in the alphabet, a great way to help teach your kids, and help them learn to recognize the letters and the sounds they make is through matching games. Kids love Memory, or matching games, and you can make them at home. This is easy to do, and you can provide your child with hours of learning and fun. It depends on the child and their level of knowledge.
Here are a few types of matching games you can create to help your child learn some of the letters, the sounds they make, and learn to use them in context. They are going to be a lot of fun for your kids, and will help them not just learn them, but remember them:
Match: Uppercase with lowercase. This is going to help kids learn the letters, and be able to recognize them whether they are in uppercase or lowercase. You can write them on index cards, and lay them out upside down, and play Memory with your kids.
Match: Letter with letter. You can simply write out the letters so they are exactly the same, and will match one another exact. You can print them out, or write them out. You can laminate them to make them last, etc.
Match: Letter with picture that starts with letter. This is a great game for those who may already recognize the letters themselves, but need to brush up on recognizing them in context, and learning the sounds they make. This will help with early reading skills. So, put the letters on one set, and pictures that start with those letters on the other. For example, you can put an A on one and Apple on another.
For kids who are more advanced with the alphabet, and may know some of the letters already, but need some practice in order to make their skills better, choose some online games. There are tons of sites that offer online games, and cater to the whole spectrum of learners. Take a few minutes to browse the various sites, and find the ones that best fit your child.
Other fun alphabet games include things such as word searches, flash cards, etc. You can make the games yourself, buy them, or play the ones online. It is up to you. Just remember, kids learn better when it is fun and does not have the pressure associated with it.