Learning Letters and Letter Sounds: Alphabet puzzles

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Alphabet puzzles are a wonderful toy for children.  Be sure to buy one that has both upper case and lower case letters.  

This type of puzzle is a great one for an adult to do with the child.  

As your child picks up letters to place in the puzzle, talk about the letter and the picture that begins with the later.  Do this each time you do the puzzle together.  

Once your child can tell you almost all the letters, you can start focusing on the sound each letter makes.  Talk about the words that begin with that sound.  Both letters usually have a pictures of an object that begins with the letters sound.  Isolate the sound so your child can hear the letter sound, then say the objects name again.  

For example:  The pictures are of a wagon and watch.  Ask your child what the pictures are of where the W or w would go.  Then say the word wagon...then the "w" sound...ask your child to repeat the sound.  Then say the name of the object again...wagon or watch.