Talk About It: The Letter B

The big idea: B says /b/, and you can feel it pop on your lips.

Today we're learning B. For toddlers, the goal isn't writing the letter. It's hearing the /b/ sound at the start of words and connecting it to the shape of B. B is a great early letter because you can feel it: lips together, then a little pop of air.

Questions to ask

• "Put your hand in front of your mouth and say 'ball.' Did you feel the pop?"

• "Does bear start with /b/? Does cat?"

• "Can you think of a B word? Ball, bath, bed, bubble, bus, baby!"

• "Who do we know whose name starts with B?"

• "What does a B look like? A straight line and two bumps!"

Show it in one minute

Blow a few bubbles and say, "/b/ /b/ bubbles!" Every time your child pops one, they say "/b/." Then trace a big B in the air: "Straight line down, bump, bump."

Keep it going

Play "B or not B" in the car or at the store. Say a word and your child gives a thumbs up if it starts with /b/. Keep it silly and quick.

Want to learn more?

• Letters and Sounds: Practical Ideas for Parents, from Reading Rockets

• The Alphabetic Principle, from Reading Rockets

• Phonological and Phonemic Awareness: Activities for Your Pre-K Child, from Reading Rockets

Shop these items

Find the books and supplies from this week in one place. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.

• Today's book: Apple Farmer Annie by Monica Wellington

• From our set: Magnetic alphabet flash cards

• Shop everything for Week 2: Apples

• Starter supplies: the basics we use most weeks

• See every week in our Amazon storefront

More for this week: see all our Apple activities, Letter B activities and Number 2 activities.