Domain: NC Foundations for Early Learning: Language Development and Communication (LDC)

Subdomain: Foundations for Reading

Goal: Children begin to develop knowledge of the alphabet and the alphabetic principle.

Skill Progression: Develop knowledge of the alphabet and the alphabetic principle

Age: 42-48 Months

Click here to go to all skills for ages 42-48 Months.

Give each child a card with her name on it. (A small group of children is best.)

The adult holds up the cards one at a time and asks, “Whose name is this?” When the child identifies her name, the adult asks the child to name the letters in her name.

The child recognizes her own name.

Early childhood educators and parents can use many opportunities during the day to point out letters and sounds in environmental print and in books. Give children materials to practice writing, and when books are read talk about the words and the letters and sound-letter associations. Children can also find certain letters they know or find matching letters on the page. Help them identify the sounds the letters make in the words on the page. Also, it is important to let children dictate what they want to write to an adult or older sibling so they can see their words in print and read them back. This helps them learn the writing and reading process.