Anyone know ways to teach a stubborn kid the alphabet?

Question

My son is 5, just started kindergarten 2 weeks ago, will soon be 6, and I'm about to rip my hair out. I've been working with him, his little brother and sister for the past year on the alphabet, saying each letter, recognizing the letters when they see them, and writing the letters. My problem is this. My 4 year old daughter can recognize and write the whole alphabet, upper and lower case, writes her name, etc...my soon to be six year old won't even try. I've tried starting with A, and I'll ask him what it is, and he'll say C. Everything is a C. I'll say it's an A and then ask him again what it is, and he'll say C. I've tried magnets, flash cards, games, etc...and it doesn't work. I'm going Crazy, I've spent 2 years trying to teach him, and everything is still a C. He won't write his name or anything.

Answer 1

get him tested, he may have slight learning disabilities, like dyslexia.

If that is not the case, make it really fun, give him rewards, or treats.

Try the alphagetti pasta things, see if he can put any of the noodles in order, try to make it fun for him, also, get his teachers to work with him. once he goes to school, he may feel very left out if he doesn't know his letters, and he may be more motivated to learn them.  

Answer 2

Leapfrog has a video called "letter factory" my daughter started watching it at 1, and knew her alphabet and all the sounds the letters make by 2. It's a great video with cool tunes for kids to get in to.

Answer 3

I have the perfect answer to this. My son is almost 4 and I am already taking him to an eye doctor. I used to be this way when I was younger and hated school growing up. I have this eye disorder which in turn makes it a learning disorder. Something about how your vision connects with your brain and because of this it makes you stubborn and act this way. My mom is actually on her way over to my house and she has the book that tells all about it. Once she gets here I will be happy to send you the information on it and the name of the actual disorder. Once you read about it you can certainly take your son to be checked out. In this case I wouldn't think that it is just only stubborness. There could be more to it.  

Answer 4

If it is really a prob try talking to your doc he may be dislexic.

Answer 5

My kids had no interest in flash cards..too boring.  When they were small I bought video tapes that held their interests, you know something like Sesame Street, that had singing etc. about the letters, also coloring books of the alphabet that showed the letters and things that begin with them, simple story books too and I'd read to them...they loved it and knew all the letters before they went to school.  You have to find something that will hold his interest..to him it will be just play, but he will be learning.  

Answer 6

I would write your principal and his teacher and ask if they can test him for learning disabilities

When a child is in Kindergarten, and you write and ask to have them tested, they need to so

Also see if you school has a program that will help him.  I got my child in a program, but I paid for the test, so she will be able to start from day one

Get him tested as soon as possible, the soon he get help, the easier school will be

Answer 7

He is not 'stubborn.'  For whatever reason, he is not yet able to recognize his letters. His brain might just not be quite 'there' yet -- or he may have learning issues.

I would be talking with his teacher about it. Most kids DO know their letters by the age of 6, so she may have some ideas on what, if anything if wrong, and where to go from here.  

Answer 8

It sounds like a learning difficulty rather than him beign deliberately contrary.

Talk to your doctor and best of luck to him. Also, remember NOT to make him feel stupid because he struggles with his alphabet. Dyslexics can go pretty far in life.

Answer 9

Try not calling him stubborn. he's  probably dyslexic or needs glasses. when a child cant do something beyond his age group he's either late ( dont worry he will catch up someday ) or has a problem get him tested the earlier you recognize symptoms the easier it will be for him in the future for schoolwork and life