The first step to reading is NOT memorizing the alphabet or letter sound relationships; it's about building an understanding of order and symbols. Before mastering the abstract world of letters, children should first grasp the concrete world of objects. Why?
Because before a child can group and order letters to read, they must be able to group and order concrete objects. This fundamental skill develops as a child sorts toys by color or size, or lines up blocks from tallest to shortest. These activities create the knowledge that objects can be organized in specific sequences. This hands-on, tangible experience is the first step toward seeing and then understanding order.
Consider that before a child can read, they must be able to arrange items in an ordered line, say "apple, pear, plum, lettuce, egg.". If you ask them to sequence the first letter of each item—a-p-p-l-e— you're asking them to make a massive cognitive leap. Sequencing objects precedes the abstract task of sequencing symbols.
Numbers are the Bridge from concrete objects to the abstract symbols of letters because they are simpler symbols than letters in two ways:
- Fewer Symbols: There are only 9 basic numerals (1-9), compared to 26 letters. This smaller set is less intimidating and should be 33% easier for a child to learn.
- Direct Correspondence: Each numeral has a one-to-one correspondence with the quantity it represents. The number 1 always means "one of something," whether it's one apple or one person. The meaning is unchanging. This direct link makes numbers a reliable symbol system.
In contrast, the meaning and sound of letters can change dramatically depending on their position and surrounding letters. The letter 'e' is a great example. In the word “example” ‘e’ has a sound at the beginning and is silent at the end. This ambiguity makes letters far more complex than numbers.
Once a child reliably sees and understands that the symbol '5' stands for five of something and they can place a specific something in the first, third or fifth place they are ready to tackle the larger, more complex world of letters sequenced to make words. They can explore that a letter’s meaning is not fixed. While an egg is always an egg, the letter 'e' is a symbol with many assigned sounds—and those sounds change depending on the letter’s location.
The journey from arranging objects to reading words should progress from concrete to abstract. Start with familiar items, move to the consistent world of numbers, and finally explore the many rules of letters. This builds a solid cognitive-perceptual foundation ensuring that children enjoy developing their understanding of the systematic way written language produces meaningful sounds.