B isn’t for Bear…

Picture it: You’ve been pointing out letters and modeling their sounds (“Look, a “B”! “B” is for bear!”), but…crickets. Your child’s eyes glaze over and they’ve completely tuned you out. Not only that, but the next day they don’t even remember what you taught. What gives?

Well, the truth is, “B” is not for bear. Say what now? Stick with me here. “B” isn’t for bear…if your child really isn’t crazy about bears. You see, when it comes to young children, we always need to make learning concepts meaningful to them in order to make them exciting and memorable.

Young children are “seekers of meaning” – they are constantly seeking meaning! When something relates to their life, it’s not only WAY more interesting to them, but it also becomes sticky and they’re more likely to remember it.

This is because when we’re learning, the brain tries to link neurons together. If learning content can hook onto something your child already knows, it helps their brain form those connections.

When making letters meaningful, think about:

Your child’s name
Family members’ and friends’ names
Toys
Favorite characters
Favorite foods

So next time you model letters and their sounds, try this:

CHILD’S NAME:
“Oh, look, an “S”! “S” says /s/. Like Stella! That’s your letter! “S” is for Stella.”

FAMILY MEMBER’S NAME:
“Wow, a “B”! “B” says /b/. Like cousin Bo’s name! That’s his letter!”

FAVORITE FOOD:
“Oh, there’s a “P”! “P” says /p/. Like pizza. We love making our own pizza!”

FAVORITE TV SHOW:
“Ooh, an “R”! “R” says /r/. Like Rosita from Sesame Street. That’s her letter!”

Remember that the *most* important thing is positive experiences with letters. No need to quiz or drill. Simply point them out when you see them!

So whether it’s “P” is for your dog, Potato, or “M” is for your child’s favorite toy bunny, Mr. Fluff Face, when you relate letters to your child’s life, they’ll become more exciting AND more memorable.