What Letter Should My Child Learn First?
Helene Lieberman MS, OTR/L https://www.blackbackhandwriting.com/
One of the questions I get asked very frequently is:
“What letter should my child learn first?”
My answer is probably not what you expect—it depends on the child!
There isn't one perfect order for every child to learn their letters. When deciding where to begin, I like to think about developmental readiness, meaning, familiarity, and repetition.
Start With Letters That Are Developmentally Easier
For many children, I suggest beginning with letters that are developmentally easier to form.
Think about letters that are made primarily from vertical and horizontal lines.
For example:
T
I
L
E
F
These letters don't require a lot of complicated changes in direction or curved lines. They give children an opportunity to practice some of the basic strokes they will need for many other letters.
Starting with simpler letter formations can help a child experience success while they are developing their handwriting skills.
But What About Children With Learning Differences?
This is where my answer changes.
Children who don't have special learning needs can often learn letters successfully using a variety of approaches and in a variety of orders.
But when a child has learning differences, I take a more individualized approach.
I want the letters to mean something to that child.
One of the easiest places to start is with the letters in the child's first name.
Think about how motivating it can be for a child to recognize and write their own name. Their name appears on artwork, cubbies, folders, clothing, school papers, and so many other places.
Those letters become meaningful because they belong to them.
Follow the Child's Interests
But it doesn't always have to be the child's name.
Maybe a child absolutely loves candy.
Instead of simply presenting a random group of letters, why not use something the child already recognizes and loves?
Maybe the word is CANDY.
Or perhaps there is a particular type of candy the child loves and recognizes from the package. Suddenly, those letters have a purpose!
The child isn't just learning an abstract symbol.
They're learning letters that connect to something real, familiar, and motivating.
And that can make a difference.
What If There Isn't a Meaningful Word?
If I can't find a particularly meaningful word to use as a starting point, I often look at how frequently letters occur in the English language.
Why?
Because familiarity and repetition matter.
The letters children see frequently are also letters they are likely to encounter and eventually need to write frequently.
Think about it...
How often do you write the letter Q?
Probably not nearly as often as you write letters such as E, T, A, O, I, or N.
So why spend a tremendous amount of time focusing on a less frequently used letter when there are so many high-frequency letters that children will encounter over and over again?
What Program Can I Use
BlackBack Handwriting has individual letter cards allowing you to pull out the cards you need without having to weed through or be distracted by other letters.
BlackBack has other unique features to make handwriting easy.
• BlackBack Handwriting is the only handwriting system using the negative space of the page: images are white on a black background. This increases focus and decreases reversals.
• BlackBack Handwriting allows the user to see their strokes as they use the negative/ white space and get minimal or no visual feedback when not writing correctly. This eliminates the need for language and promotes error-free learning.
• BlackBack Handwriting has only one image on the page, eliminating distraction and increasing attention to the task.
• BlackBack Handwriting is the only handwriting program with 4 varied sizes of each upper- and lower-case letter, shape, and number. This develops fine motor coordination.
• BlackBack Handwriting has laminated cards that be used repeatedly with dry-erase writing tools and sensory media. This is perfect for those needing multiple exposures and multi-sensory learning experiences.
· BlackBack Handwriting is great for practicing phonics and spelling
· BlackBack Handwriting is easily incorporated into motor games making learning active and fun
BlackBack Handwriting can be purchased at https://www.blackbackhandwriting.com/
There Isn't One "Right" Letter to Start With
When it comes to handwriting, I don't believe in a one-size-fits-all approach.
The most important question may not be:
“What letter should every child learn first?”
Instead, I think we should ask:
“What letter makes the most sense for THIS child?”
Because when we consider the child's developmental abilities, interests, experiences, and opportunities for repetition, we can make handwriting practice much more meaningful.
And sometimes, the best place to start isn't with a particular letter at all.
It's with the child.
Comments