15 Ways to teach 2-Year-Old Alphabet and numbers

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At the age of two years old, toddlers will start to learn the alphabet and numbers. Although it depends on every child, it is important to start engaging them with educational activities.

15 Ways to teach 2-Year-Old Alphabet and numbers

As a parent, how will you aid in teaching your 2-year-olds about these two? Here below are 15 ways to get them started:

1.      Repetition

Repetition is a great way to make your 2-year-old familiar with the alphabet and numbers. According to a study, a child can learn better when there is repetition.[1] Consider reciting the number alternately. Start saying the letter A and ask your child to follow you. Say the letter B and ask to be followed again. Say the letter C and so on. For numbers, it is better to start counting numbers 1 to 3 and ask your child to follow you. After that, continue with numbers 4 to 6. It is important to do it all with enjoyment as it could be easier for your child to understand.

2.      Say it out loud

Back when my child was one year old, I used to recite the alphabet and numbers softly as, during that time, my child does not yet understand the words I recite. However, when my child turned 2 years old, I was amazed by this technique! Although my child still follows after the words I say, I have observed that my child is learning faster when we count and read the alphabet loudly! A little wireless mic toy will bring more fun!

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Echo Mic for Kids and Toddlers
This toy can accelerate your child’s reading and comprehension and your child will surely enjoy when they hear their voices’ echo. Additionally, this toy microphone can actually interest your child in becoming a performer one day!

3.      Notice the prints

Toddlers are curious especially the 2-year-olds and you can use this curiosity to teach them the alphabet and numbers. This method of teaching my child is very effective and I do it often. Alphabet and numbers are everywhere. You can see them on billboards when you are on the road, on cereal boxes, on baby toothpaste, elevators, and even the prints on their shirt! Ask your child about them and you’ll be surprised and happy with their response especially when they are correct!

4.      Day by day practice

Because of this pandemic, my husband had to work from home and this set-up makes my husband do the work when I am not present. My husband spends some time practicing our child reading and counting alphabet and numbers every day and I am always surprised when I get home! Every day, I notice my child being familiar with the alphabet and numbers although, at one and a half year old, my child already knows how to recite the alphabet, he does not know yet how to identify the letters without starting from letter A. However, when my husband practices our child every day, he starts to identify some letters and numbers! According to a study, practicing reading and counting can help in the development of reading and mathematical skills of children.[2] Additionally, I recommend teaching the alphabet letter by letter and numbers one by one. With this, you would fill your child’s mind with too much information and they would not feel exhausted from studying.

5.      Start with the name and age

What’s your name? How old are you? These are the two questions we always ask our child before even turning 2 years old. Since they are more familiar with their age and name, I recommend also using these two in helping them recognize letters and numbers.

6.      Eat the alphabet and numbers

Can your child eat the alphabet and numbers? Of course, they can! You can consider adding up alphabet and numbers on your food table such as cereals, ready-to-cook alphabet, and numbers nuggets and pretzels, alphabet graham crackers, baked alphabet muffins, number gummies, alphabet pancakes, etc. To make it more fun, before even snacking it, ask your child to tell you what is the number or letter she or he is eating!

Bear Alpha Bites Cocoa Multigrain Cereal Letters
Your child will eat more and fast and you will not have a hard time asking them to eat their food

7.      Bathe with the alphabet and numbers

Can your child bathe with the alphabet and numbers? Of course, they can! Instead of lovely baby bath ducks, consider using alphabet and number foam bath toys. Additionally, bath time is a great opportunity to review the alphabet and numbers! While swimming and having fun with water, they are also learning too!

Foam Fun Alphabet Letters and Numbers
Your child will enjoy their bathe time more and supports brain development. When a child plays with water, what happens is that their curiosity makes them experimental. For this instance, they may experiment on these bath toys by thinking of floating objects.

8.      Flashcards

Flashcards are definitely amazing and effective. According to a study, flashcards can help in improving the interest of children in education and learning.[3] Before my child turns into 2 years old, I started doing DIY flashcards while I am at work and when I got home, I introduced these flashcards to my child. At first, my child was not paying attention and I fully understand that. I kept those flashcards and one time, my child found them and I thought of teaching them to my child. Every day, while we are on our bed before we sleep, I teach my child using those flashcards and the process of learning does not happen overnight. At first, I show letter A to letter Z and when I show random letters, my child will usually say, “No! A first!” After weeks of patience, my child finally learned the alphabet even if I do not start with the letter A.

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Educational Flash Cards for Toddlers
Using flashcards will make your child’s memorization skills be enhanced. In school, memorization is important and if you start using flashcards, your child would not have a hard time doing it in the future.

9.      Puzzles

Alphabet and numbers puzzles are also great tools to use when teaching your 2-years-old as they do not only learn these two but they may also start learning simple skills on verbal and vocabulary.

Wooden Puzzle

There are different puzzles you can use and personally, I recommend the wooden puzzle as they are not easily destroyed and crumpled. Also, since their texture is hard, it is easier to find and clean them!

Timy Wooden Alphabet Puzzle Board
Your child’s motor skills can be enhanced by using these puzzles and eventually, your child will learn how to be organized and patient and these trait can be brought by them as they grow older

Counting Puzzle

I found my 2-year-old enjoying cartoon and animal puzzles and I got an idea from this! I tried using a counting/number puzzle and my child really had fun! It was easier for me to introduce numbers to him and at the same time, I found him truly interacting with me!

10.  Worksheets

There are many worksheets and printables available online but the contents are almost the same. I recommend buying actual workbooks as you can really see the improvement of your child when you go back to their previous activities. Additionally, workbooks start from light and small activities to bigger ones. For this reason, as your child begins to learn, you will see that they can engage with the bigger task after learning from the smaller tasks.

Toddler Lesson Plans
Saves your time from looking almost-the-same worksheets online and your child will be able to learn self-learning and independence.

11.  Posters

This method will always be part of our lives and posters are always in our home especially in our 2-year-old’s room. Alphabet and numbers posters may take up space on your wall but they are definitely useful and effective. Although they just sit there and your child may pass by them from time to time, they are actually learning from it! Every time they get to see these letters and numbers even if it is unintentional, they get to familiarize themselves with these through symbols. Consider posting up and be surprised with the results!

ABC Alphabet & Numbers 1-10 Poster Chart Set
It will be easier for your child to read the alphabet and numbers and this can save time in teaching them

12.  Sing

Back when I still need to swing my child to sleep, I used to sing songs for him and when I leave him, the music stays beside him and as my child grows older, I noticed that he remembers and can follow the songs I used to sing and play to him. With this, I realized that singing is indeed a great way to teach 2-year-olds alphabet and numbers! You can consider singing the alphabet song if you are teaching the alphabet and when teaching numbers; you can try singing “5 little monkeys” or the “10 little Indians” song. According to a study, children prefer singing as a way of teaching them because they learn quickly through this way.[4]There are many songs available online and it is up to you to choose the catchiest one you think!

13.  Get active

Toddlers love to move around and you can use this positively. There are many ways to learn every day, wherever you are, and being active is a great way to teach your 2-year-olds about the alphabet and numbers. You know your child very well and therefore, you know the activities they will surely enjoy.

Become the letters or numbers

Form the alphabet letters and numbers using your bodies. This activity is best done when you do it with the whole family. So, spare some time and enjoy activities like these! Go outside and walk and ask your child to hunt the letters around the neighborhood. This is a fun activity especially during the afternoon of your day off! Surely, you and your 2-year-olds and even their siblings will enjoy this family time!

Pompoms

Pompoms come in different colors and these pieces of stuff can be used for your activity. Sort these pompoms according to their color and ask your child to count how many are there per color. Additionally, you can use them in introducing colors to your toddlers.

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Caydo 300 Pieces 1 Inch Assorted Pompoms Multicolor Arts
Your child’s imagination can be enhanced and your child may become a crafty and creative person in the future when you expose them on stuff like this at an early age.

ABC bracelets

2-year-olds especially the girls can enjoy this activity while learning! Making an alphabet bracelet is an easy and fun thing to do and you can actually buy a set. Basically, what you will do is to make a bracelet and if you want your child to make the whole alphabet a necklace, it is possible as well!

Make It Real – Block n’ Rock Bracelets
Helps your child develop their cognitive skills and allows them to experience real life activities. Allowing your child to engage with this stuff may interest them with arts and crafts

Cut by the numbers and letters

Your child may love being in the kitchen and you can use this opportunity to let them enjoy while learning. You can let your child use child-friendly letters and numbers cutters and to level this up, aside from cutting cookies, you can cut fruits or any soft food with it. My 2-year-old enjoys doing this with me especially during merienda time. I make it to a point that while my child is learning while enjoying.

Ann Clark Cookie Cutters
Teaching can be more fun and you can do it while doing other house chores. For this reason, you are actually saving your time by doing two things in one: cooking and teaching. Additionally, your child may be interested with food preparations, baking, or other activities that may be related with cookie cutters.

14.  Read books

Books are great aids in teaching your 2-year-olds alphabet and numbers. Additionally, you can start introducing sounds when using books as tools. Additionally, I recommend starting reading books to your children even at a younger age. There are many fantastic books available and when reading, I recommend you point out letters and numbers and ask your child to follow you.

Eating the Alphabet: Fruits and Vegetables from A to Z

This is a great book for your 2-year-old who loves snacking fruits and vegetables or if your child hates them too! This is a great book that you can use as a tool for identifying letters. Additionally, this is a 3-in-1 book as you do not just introduce the alphabet to your child and teach them the names of different fruits and vegetables but you also can teach them about eating healthy foods.

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Eating the Alphabet
You can teach the alphabet easily using this book especially if your child is a fan of snacking time. On the other hand, if your child is picky when it comes to food, sharing this book to them may attract them to eat delicious and nutritious foods.

5 Busy Ducklings

Your 2-year-old probably knows about the story of 5 little ducklings if your child has ever heard it online. If you are not a friend with screen time, then you can add this book to your list when teaching your 2-year-old about numbers. This book offers a story, play, and educational time. Additionally, the story here is easy to follow so you should not miss the chance to get this book!

5 Busy Ducklings (Rookie Toddler)
Your child’s love for reading will be enhanced and using this book will be easier for you to introduce numbers to your child. Using this book will not exhaust your child too much with learning especially if your child is below 2 years old.

15.  Use toys

Playing is also a great way to learn and while playing, you can incorporate teaching alphabet and numbers to your 2-year-olds. However, it is important to always be involved when using toys as a method of teaching so that your child would understand more. According to a study, play opportunities either indoors or outdoors are alternatives for children to learn.[5]

Alphabet Apple

Alphabet Apple is one of my favorite toys! I also find these toys long-lasting and entertaining. This techy apple toy attracts my child so much because of the lights that glow when a letter is pressed. Additionally, I find them very interactive and your child can play them even when you are not with them! You will be surprised when you hear your 2-year-olds reciting those ABCs on their own!

VTech Alphabet Apple,Red
Helps in developing your child’s verbal and visual skills and since it is portable, you can teach your child wherever you are. Additionally, it teaches time concepts to your child. So, at a young age, your child may learn how to read time.

Sesame Street Playskool Cookie Monster’s on the Go Numbers

The best thing about this toy is that is handy and your 2-year-old can take it on your adventures. It is like a small bag and inside that bag are 10 colored cookie numbers. This means learning everywhere you go!

Sesame Street Playskool Cookie Monster's On The Go Numbers
Best tool to practice your child’s motor, thinking, and imaginative skills. This toy can teach your child how to be organize and neat. Additionally, it teaches little children about cleaning time after a whole day of playing.

Elmo Singing ABC

This toy is a plush one and your 2-year-old can actually sleep with it. Basically, Elmo sings the alphabet when you push the button. I personally recommend this toy because the value of repetition can be learned by your child.

Playskool Sesame Street Singing ABC’s Elmo
Your child can practice anytime and be familiar with the alphabets wherever you go. It also saves your time especially when your schedule is hectic.

Play-Doh ABC 123 Tools

I bought this toy for my child’s second birthday because I saw him getting interested in clay and I thought of getting one for educational purposes. Eventually, my child enjoyed and I had no regrets!

Play-Doh Fundamentals Letters with 26 Letter Stamper Tools and 6 Colors of Play-Doh
Helps in practicing your child in a fun and creative way about numbers and letters and additionally playing clay can develop and strengthen your child’s muscle.

Wrapping Up

            Patience is very important when teaching your child and honestly, it is not as easy as snapping your finger. There are many ways to teach your 2-year-olds and it is important to let your partner do this teaching with you.


[1] Mahlan, Elaina. “Again? Repetition in Teaching and Learning.” Journal of Christian Nursing 35.3 (2018): 200.

[2] Peterson, Lori, et al. “Counting practice with pictures, but not objects, improves children’s understanding of cardinality.” Proceedings of the Annual Meeting of the Cognitive Science Society. Vol. 36. No. 36. 2014.

[3] ASTUTI, KRISTHA WIDYA. THE USE OF FLASH CARDS TO IMPROVE YOUNG LEARNERS’INTEREST IN LEARNING ENGLISH (A Classroom Action Research of the Fifth Grade Studentsof SD N 01 Tahunan Jepara in the Academic Years of 2013/2014). Diss. UNIVERSITAS NEGERI SEMARANG, 2015.

[4] Walton, Patrick. “Using singing and movement to teach pre-reading skills and word reading to kindergarten children: An exploratory study.” Language and Literacy 16.3 (2014): 54-77.

[5] Coates, Janine K., and Helena Pimlott‐Wilson. “Learning while playing: Children’s forest school experiences in the UK.” British Educational Research Journal 45.1 (2019): 21-40.

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Author

Diana Lucas

Diana Lucas

Hi, Diana here. Welcome to my blog and hope you like my sharing. I am a mother of 2 boys, 3 years old and a 1 year old. I dedicate my career in child development research and I focus on parenting tips, positive parenting, educational toys for my babies. Your time here means a lot to me! Diana A. Lucas

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