Parents with kids of 3-4 years old often face a daunting task – teaching letters and alphabet to the kids. In your head, identifying letters “A” or “B” is as easy as it can be, but it entirely different to the kids.

It could take months even years for some kids.

So, be patient!

How to teach alphabet to kids? The simplest way to teach letters and alphabet to young kids is the usage of phonetic alphabet. It ensures quicker learning, and the knowledge will sustain in their brains for a long, long time. 

What is phonetic alphabet, you ask?

Phonetic alphabet basically signifies the set of written symbols that represent different meaningful sounds in a language.

Hmm… the definition seems really complicated!

Let me clear it out. But first, forget about the definition and the written symbols!

When you were a kid, did you learn a letter using rhymes like A for apple, B for Ball? Maybe, you have used different words, but you know the gist, right?

When teaching about letters to the kids, we use such recognizable rhymes. Almost every one of us has learned the English alphabet with the help of the phonetic alphabet when we were young.

Just like that, you can use knowledge of phonemes to teach letters and alphabet to the kids. So, that's our target today.

We will learn about using the phonetic alphabet for kids to teach English letters. Plus, I will talk about the most efficient ways and tricks to utilize this tool.

So, let’s jump in!

 

A Standard Example of Phonetic Alphabet

Understanding a concept with an elaborate example always makes things simpler. So, take a closer look at a full example of the phonetic alphabet.

But let me make one thing clear. Technically, there is no standard version of the phonetic alphabet. It will always come down to usability.

Because some kids can relate to a word more than other kids. So, it's always best to create a customized phonetic alphabet.

Okay, enough jibber-jabber.

Let’s check out that complete example now!

 

Phonetic Alphabet Example
Letter	Relatable Word
A	Apple
B	Ball
C	Cat
D	Dog
E	Egg
F	Fish
G	Gate
H	Hand
I	Igloo
J	Jar
K	Kite
L	Lion
M	Monkey
N	Nose
O	Orange
P	Pen
Q	Queen
R	Rose
S	Sun
T	Tiger
U	Umbrella
V	Van
W	Water
X	X-ray
Y	Yellow
Z	Zoo

 

Again, this is just an example. You can create different versions maintaining the basic concept.

 

Why Do Phonics and Phonetic Alphabet Matter?

Why should you even bother creating such phonetic alphabet for kids? Can’t you teach them each letter individually?

There are two strong reasons behind using such alphabet –

• It’s easy to co-relate between a letter and a word
• You can also teach them about pronunciation (passively)

As you are using the phonetic alphabet for kids, you are basically teaching them a co-relation among – a word, the sound of that word, and practical example of that usage letter and sound in a word.

So, you see, phonics and sound have crucial roles to play here.

Let’s take a look at a different perspective.

How well can the kids memorize?

Not that well!

Yes, kids are oozing with curiosity but memorizing different things is a completely different concept. But, memorizing the alphabet is a crucial task.

Why?

Because learning the alphabet is somewhat the base of education.

So, you would want your kids to learn the alphabet as soon as possible. The use of phonics and phonetic alphabet songs is a great way of doing so.

Moreover, even though the kids have memorized the alphabet, there is a strong chance that they will forget what they have memorized in a couple of days. That’s why you need a contingency plan. Learning the phonetic alphabet is the contingency plan here.

At the same time, teachers should focus on teaching inventive spelling. This guide talks about details on how do you teach inventive spelling. 

 

How Phonetic Alphabet Helps to Memorize?

In the early stage of learning, a child gradually gets familiarized with different objects that surround him or her.

For example, just after learning to speak words (only a few), children will constantly ask you questions like – “what is that?”

The young brain is hungry for new knowledge and new information. Their curiosity knows no bound.

Phonetic alphabet helps to co-relate.

Kids co-relate with the new words they have learned with the letters in the English alphabet that they have learned.

It’s a bridge between two things.

For example, let’s imagine that your kid has just learned about the red juicy, tasty fruit is apple. There is a strong chance that he or she will remember the name of his or her favorite fruit from now on. If you then tell them – A for Apple, probably they will remember the letter A too.

Because their brains will co-relate between a and apple.

So, you see, phonetic alphabet can help young kids memorize letters faster. But remember, you need to introduce them to the words that they can relate to. Otherwise, this strategy will not work.

For example, if you tell them A for Aztec, they can’t co-relate. Because they don't have any idea about Aztec civilization, and that word doesn't have much value to them.  Now, there are many great websites for kids that specialize in phonemic awareness. 

 

Phonetic Alphabet for Kids: Strategies You Can Follow to Teach

As I have said earlier, creating a custom phonetic alphabet for kids is the best option. If you follow a pre-made alphabet, you will have to teach your kids about a lot of new words. Moreover, you will have to create a certain level of interest regarding those words. Otherwise, your kids will forget those words soon.

So, let’s talk about how you can create custom ones.

 

Strategy 1: Using Familiar Words

The number one rule is beginning with familiar words, words that have some sense of importance to your kids.

For example, a lot of parents point to different body parts and teach them the name of those body parts. Kids very soon memorize those body parts.

And, these are the names that the kids rarely forget ever in their lives.

So, it’s very easy for the kids to co-relate different letters with the names of these body parts.

Thus, you can teach them –

• H for hair or hand
• N for nose
• E for eye
• L for leg
• N for nail

And, so on …

Moreover, these words are mono-syllabled words, which makes them very easy to remember.

Similarly, you can use the name of different colors. Kids have a natural fondness for colors. The vibrant colors leave a lasting impression on the kids.

They often ask the adults to tell the name of a particular color. Like – “What color does that ball have?” “What color is does that car have?”

Very soon, they memorize the name of all the common colors. You can use this fact to teach them different letters.

Like –

• R for red
• Y for yellow
• B for blue
• G for green

And, so on …

Just like that, you can use the name of the following things –

• Animals (lion, tiger, cat, dog, etc.)
• Toys (teddy bear, dolls, cars, etc.)
• Relatives (mother, father, sister, etc.)
• Common objects (TV, computer, car, tree, etc.)

The choices are potentially limitless!

 

Strategy 2: Telling Stories

Kids love to hear stories. Stories serve three major purposes –

• Entertains them
• Broadens their imagination
• Educates them

While telling stories, they will learn about a lot of different words in the process.

For example, if you are telling them fairy tales, or magic tales, they will learn a few common words like – king, queen, prince, princess, monster, magic, and so on.

Moreover, they will even grow a fondness for different iconic characters. Like – Ariel the mermaid, Rapunzel, Hercules, Aladdin, and many more.

As you can guess, you can use these words too –

• A for Aladdin or Ariel
• H for Hercules or hero
• K for king
• Q for queen

And, so on …

 

Strategy 3: Watching Cartoons

I haven’t seen a single kid in my life who doesn’t love to watch cartoons. Cartoons are funny, entertaining, and at the same time, educative.

Every kid grows fondness for Disney or Loony Tunes characters at the very beginning of their lives.

Soon, Micky, Mini, Donald, Goofy, Bugs Bunny, Lola, Daffy, Scooby, and many more become their best friends. Kids even have stuffed toys of these lovable characters.

So, use it to teach them letters.

• B for Bugs Bunny
• D for Daffy or Donald
• G for Goofy
• M for Mickey

And, so on …

There are many other ways to teach phonetic alphabet for kids. Be creative about it, and find the perfect strategy that meets the need of your kids.

 

Phonetic Alphabet Templates: Create Your Own Custom Phonetic Alphabet

If you are struggling to find the simple words that would help you to teach the English letters and phonics to your kids, you can pick the words from below –

 

Simple Words with Letter A
Ant	Amber
Apple	Axe
Arm	Army
Art	Airplane
Air	Angel

 

Simple Words with Letter B
Bee	Bull
Big	Blue
Bin	Black
Bean	Bird
Ball	Boy

 

Simple Words with Letter C
Cat	Card
Car	Cool
Can	Cold
Cab	Color
Cage	Coin

 

Simple Words with Letter D
Dog	Donkey
Doll	Dance
Dark	Dress
Deer	Dad
Daffy	Dig

 

Simple Words with Letter E
Egg	East
Eat	Easy
Eye	Earth
Ear	Elephant
Emu	End

 

Simple Words with Letter F
Fan	Full
Fly	Fit
Fox	Fun
Fat	Five
Farm	Fair

 

Simple Words with Letter G
Game	Gift
Gate	Goose
Goal	Goat
Girl	Guy
Gum	God

 

Simple Words with Letter H
Hand	Hole
Hair	Hall
Hip	Hi
Hot	He
Ham	Hen

 

Simple Words with Letter I
Igloo	Iron
Ice	Idea
Ice cream	India
Ill	Image
Ink	It

 

Simple Words with Letter J
Jam	Joke
Jar	Jump
Jug	Jaw
Jog	Jew
Joy	Jet

 

Simple Words with Letter K
Kite	Kebab
Key	Kind
Kid	Kiss
Keep	Kin
Kick	Kip

 

Simple Words with Letter L
Lamp	Lie
Lamb	Log
Leg	Lock
Low	Lot
Lip	Lab

 

Simple Words with Letter M
Map	Monkey
Mill	Money
Mouse	Mop
Mouth	Moon
Mint	Mind

 

Simple Words with Letter N
Net	Nun
New	Nap
Not	Number
Now	Name
Nut	Neck

 

Simple Words with Letter O
Old	One
Orange	Oak
Owl	Ore
Oil	Own
Out	On

 

Simple Words with Letter P
Pant	Pad
Pool	Pizza
Page	Pond
Pin	Park
Pan	Pit

 

Simple Words with Letter Q
Queen	Quiet
Quick	Question
Quack	Quilt
Quit	Quill
Quest	Queue

 

Simple Words with Letter R
Red	Rib
Rose	Ring
Rule	Round
Ram	Reap
Rock	Real

 

Simple Words with Letter S
Sun	Sister
Sad	Song
Salt	Sing
Sea	Soul
Sand	Sip

 

Simple Words with Letter T
Tree	Toe
Trip	Toss
Ten	Ton
Team	Tag
Tin	Tall

 

Simple Words with Letter U
Umbrella	Urn
Under	Upon
Use	User
Up	Unit
Us	Ultra

 

Simple Words with Letter V
Van	View
Violin	Very
Vegetable	Vein
Vet	Vow
Vest	Voice

 

Simple Words with Letter W
Wet	Wall
Water	Walk
Win	Web
Wear	Wow
Week	Warm

 

Simple Words with Letter X
X-ray	Ox
Xylophone	Fix
Box	Tax
Fox	Six
Pox	Mix

 

Simple Words with Letter Y
Yellow	Yet
Yes	Yeah
You	Yoga
Yard	Youth
YearÂ	Young

 

Simple Words with Letter Z
Zoo	Zero
Zebra	Zoom
Zip	Zeal
Zig	Zipper
Zone	Zinc