How to Make Learning Letters Fun for Kids with Learning Disabilities
How to Make Learning Letters Fun for Kids with Learning Disabilities
Children with dyslexia, ADHD, autism, and all learning abilities learn best when as many senses as possible are engaged in the learning process. For children with dyslexia, in particular, it is important to go beyond just seeing a letter and hearing its sound. By incorporating touch, movement, sight, and sound, children can make stronger connections with letters and their sounds.
Traditional methods that rely only on reading and memorization often don’t work for children with learning disabilities. Instead, multi-sensory activities can help make letter learning engaging, fun, and effective. In this article, we’ll explore ways to bring letters to life, helping children feel more confident and excited about learning.
Why Some Kids Struggle with Learning Letters
Some children may find it difficult to recognize, recall, or write letters due to differences in how their brains process information.
- Children with dyslexia often struggle with connecting letters to their sounds.
- Kids with ADHD may have difficulty focusing on letters using traditional methods.
- Children with autism may benefit from learning in a way that includes visuals, movement, and structured routines.
- Kids with fine motor challenges may find it hard to write letters and need more tactile experiences.
By incorporating movement, touch, sound, and visual elements, letter learning becomes an experience rather than a task. This is where Active Alphabet Cards come in, providing an Orton-Gillingham-based multi-sensory approach to help children of all abilities succeed.
Using Active Alphabet Cards for Multi-Sensory Learning
The Active Alphabet Cards are designed to engage all of the senses, making letter learning more meaningful. Each card includes:
- A textured letter for tactile learning, so kids can feel the shape of the letter.
- An illustration that connects the letter to a meaningful picture.
- A photo of a mouth forming the letter sound, helping children visualize how to produce the sound.
- A built-in mirror so children can see what their own mouth looks like when saying the sound.
- Prompts for self-awareness, guiding children to focus on how their mouth, tongue, and throat feel when saying each sound.
The cards help children experience letters beyond just seeing them. As they interact with the cards, they are encouraged to ask:
- Where is my tongue when I say this sound?
- Is my throat vibrating?
- Is air coming out of my mouth or nose?
- What does my mouth look like when I say the sound?
These prompts, combined with Orton-Gillingham techniques, make learning letters more accessible, engaging, and effective for children with learning disabilities.
Letter Sound Exploration Activity
- Pick an Active Alphabet Card and look at the letter.
- Feel the textured letter while tracing it with your finger.
- Look at the mouth picture on the card and compare it to your own in the mirror.
- Say the letter sound, paying attention to tongue position, vibrations, and airflow.
- Reinforce the sound by moving (jump, clap, or stomp each time you say the sound).
This hands-on approach ensures that children are not just memorizing letters but truly understanding and experiencing them.
Sensory Play with Letters
For children who benefit from tactile experiences, sensory-based letter activities provide a great way to explore letters through touch.
Sensory Letter Tray
Fill a tray with sand, rice, or shaving cream and have children trace letters in the material while saying the letter sound. Pair this with an Active Alphabet Card to reinforce learning.
Playdough Letter Molding
Roll out playdough and shape it into letters. Encourage children to feel the curves and lines while saying the sound.
Hands-on activities like these create stronger connections between letters and their sounds.
Letter Learning Through Movement
Movement-based learning is essential for children who struggle with sitting still. By pairing letters with physical activity, learning becomes more engaging and easier to retain.
Letter Hunt Challenge
Place alphabet cards around the room. Call out a letter, and have your child jump, run, or crawl to the correct card. Once they reach it, they can:
- Feel the textured letter on the card.
- Say the sound while noticing how their mouth moves.
- Act out a movement that matches the letter (e.g., slithering like a snake for "S").
Using movement while learning reinforces memory and improves focus.
Games That Make Letter Learning Fun
Learning through play helps children stay engaged and excited about letters.
Alphabet Bowling
Write letters on plastic cups and stack them. Call out a letter sound and let your child knock down the correct cup with a ball. After knocking it down, they can:
- Feel the textured letter on the Active Alphabet Card for reinforcement.
- Say the sound while paying attention to their mouth and throat movements.
Letter Bingo
Create a Bingo board with letters and use Active Alphabet Cards to call out sounds. When a child gets a Bingo, have them trace and say each letter they marked.
Interactive games like these keep learning lighthearted and stress-free.
Alphabet Songs & Music-Based Learning
Music is a powerful tool for reinforcing memory and helping children grasp letter sounds.
Sing & Move Alphabet Song
Instead of simply reciting the alphabet, make it interactive:
- Clap for consonants and stomp for vowels.
- Exaggerate mouth movements while singing to emphasize letter sounds.
- Use the mirror on the Active Alphabet Cards to see how the mouth changes for each sound.
Singing engages auditory, visual, and movement-based learning, making it easier for children to retain information.
Final Thoughts: Learning Letters Should Be an Experience, Not Just Memorization
For children with learning disabilities, letter learning needs to go beyond flashcards and repetition. By using multi-sensory strategies, children can experience letters in a way that is meaningful and memorable.
- Tactile learners can feel the textured letters.
- Visual learners can see the mouth formation images and use the mirror for feedback.
- Auditory learners can listen to letter sounds and focus on vibrations.
- Kinesthetic learners can incorporate movement to reinforce learning.
The Active Alphabet Cards support all of these learning styles by combining the Orton-Gillingham approach with multi-sensory exploration.
Enhance Learning with Active Alphabet Cards!
If you want to make letter learning fun, effective, and engaging, the Active Alphabet Cards provide the perfect multi-sensory experience for children with dyslexia, ADHD, autism, and all learning abilities.
These cards go beyond basic flashcards—they help children see, feel, and experience letters in a way that makes sense to them.
Get your set today and start exploring letters with all the senses! https://soaringmindseducation.com/products/active-alphabet-cards