19.04.09 - Phonics for Hazel

Star Tots Phonics
For children born in 2006/2007
18 months to 3 Years
Phonemic awareness
AZ sounds
Music Development

LETTERLAND CHARACTERS
LETTER SHAPES & SOUNDS

a-z

Star Tots Phonics Programme for 18 months to 3 years old

It is too early to try to teach a two-year old child to read, but it is not too early to introduce letter shapes and sounds in a fun way, which is what Letterland does. Putting letters together into words is a complex process, which comes much more naturally later at 4, 5 and 6. You can perhaps expect a 2-year old to learn a few words (particularly if they always appear in the same place, say a cereal box), but their long-term memories still need time to develop. So what they learn about words at two is likely to be forgotten within months. I would suggest that you gradually encourage your child's natural interest in learning, without tiring his/her enthusiasm by too much focus on attaining specific goals. At 3 years old many children are already taking an interest in having stories read to them and it is positive to encourage and develop this, without putting too much pressure on them.