The English alphabet is a group of 26 letters that represent sounds in the language. Knowing these letters (and their sounds) is a basic skill kids need when they learn to read.
Learning the alphabet happens in stages, and some kids learn later than others. But by the time kids start kindergarten, most know the alphabet. Here’s how and when kids typically learn their ABCs:
Around age 2: Kids start recognizing some letters and can sing or say aloud the “ABC” song.
Around age 3: Kids may recognize about half the letters in the alphabet and start to connect letters to their sounds. (Like s makes the /s/ sound.)
Around age 4: Kids often know all the letters of the alphabet and their correct order.
Around kindergarten: Most kids can match each letter to the sound it makes.
Along the way, kids begin to develop other skills, too. For example, around age 2 or3, kids figure out the letters in their name. When they start school, they also learn that uppercase A is the same as lowercase a, just capitalized.
While kids typically learn the alphabet at a young age, some may need extra time and practice to master all the letters.
