Independent Play

Before the ABCs, Try This Gentler First Step.

Your toddler can sing the alphabet song. So, you point to a letter, hopeful — and get a blank look, or “elephant,” or the wrong letter with total confidence.

Montessori changes one thing — sounds before names — and it’s why reading later feels natural. The free Three Baskets guide sets up the calm, hands-on play that makes early learning click.

Get the Free Guide

Why This Happens

A child who can sing all 26 names has learned a song. A child who knows the sounds has learned a code.

Reading is turning symbols into sounds and blending them into words. Knowing a letter is called “double-you” tells a child little about reading; knowing it says /w/ opens the door. The order is the whole shift.

Try These 3 Things Today

1

Say the sound, not the name.

“This letter says /m/,” rather than “this is em.” The single most useful change you can make.

2

Start with the letter their own name begins with.

“Your name starts with /m/, mmm, Mia.” One letter that already matters to them.

3

Trace and touch, don’t drill.

Finger-trace the shape in the air or on paper. Skip the quizzing — depth beats speed here.

The Three Baskets free guide

Make early learning feel gentler.

The free Three Baskets guide walks you through building a Calm Basket from 4–6 things already in your house — plus the four sentences to say when the feeling is already big. 16 pages, more than 40 items you already own, nothing to buy.

From a former elementary school teacher. No spam — unsubscribe anytime.

Want to Learn More?

Before tracing letters, start here.

The gentle Montessori alphabet approach → Read here.

Remember: Progress, Not Perfection

Welcome to the nest.