Alphabet boxes for toddlers and preschoolers

The basic idea of alphabet boxes is to have a bag, box, tray, or drawer that is labeled with a letter and has things that start with that letter in it.¹ For instance, depending on the size of your box/ bag and how many items you want, for “d” you could have, for instance,

• a dreidel,
• toys, pictures, or puzzle pieces featuring animals such as a duck,
• a doll
• ‘d’ letter the child can touch (e.g., sandpaper letter or letter made from wood)
• photos from people in the child’s world whose title (daddy) or name (like David, Daniel, Dina,…) starts with d are also a good addition, as talking about family photos is, e.g., part of PA’s toddler learning standards.

There are tons of ideas on how to make alphabet boxes on the web. They are also called, for instance, ‘Montessori alphabet boxes’, ‘beginning sound object boxes’, ‘alphabet sound boxes’, ‘sound/ letter boxes’, ‘initial sound boxes’, ‘sound trays’, ‘sound boxes’, ‘sound cabinets’, or ‘letters and phonics sound boxes’. Many sites focus more on older preschoolers (e.g., they have lots of small parts that are choking hazards).² But there are also ideas to make boxes for 12- to 18-month-old toddlers to explore.³

Why alphabet boxes?

Alphabet boxes can be part of a toy rotation and part of a print-rich environment. Basically, it’s giving them a few new objects to explore at regular intervals. The letter organizes these objects and helps build awareness of letters and beginning sounds.

Having an alphabet box can also help to point out things in the environment, whether at home (e.g., the dryer) or when taking a walk (e.g., daisies), as the parents naturally look for things starting with that letter more during that time.

One box per letter vs. one box for the whole alphabet

There are different options for alphabet boxes. Some people have a big box with a set of drawers so that all the letters are accessible to the child at the same time.⁴ Others focus on one letter for a specific amount of time, such as a week, and then go to the next one.⁵ They may use two (or more) of the individual alphabet boxes for matching/ sorting activities, but only once the child has an understanding of both individually (e.g., what goes in the ‘d’ box and what goes in the ‘m’ box?)⁶ .

Having an overview of the whole alphabet somewhere (like an alphabet poster or puzzle) can be helpful. But starting with individual letter boxes instead of having all of the letters out at once seems like a good idea. It allows for bigger objects. It is less overwhelming, not just because of the letters. Just think about it – even just having 2 to 4 objects per letter in the English alphabet would mean 52 to 104 objects to put away if all of the drawers get dumped out.

Alphabet boxes vs. sound boxes

There’s quite a debate whether to teach sounds of the letters first (‘This is d’), teach letter names first (‘This is the letter ‘di’), or teach letter sounds and letter names at the same time (‘This is the letter ‘di’. It makes a d sound’)⁷. Montessori and some others say teaching the sounds helps with sounding out words⁸. But others argue that one letter can look different (upper or lowercase) and sound different (as in the letter i, which can make different sounds, e.g., in the words iron or igloo), so having the (unchanging) letter name helps children⁹. They also mention research that shows that knowing letter names is an important predictor for reading success¹⁰ and “that learning the names of letters can” make it easier to learn the “letter sounds”, especially in English¹¹. Some research found “that teaching letter names together with letter sounds led to improved letter sound learning when compared to just teaching the sounds alone”¹². So based on what I’ve read so far, a combination of letter names and sounds seems like a good idea, with each box containing things that start with the same letter (even if they have different initial sounds).

What can be put into the box for each letter? Help, I need ideas.

As a busy parent, it can help to just read through a list of things that start with the letter. This makes it so much easier to remember what kind of things you already have in your home. It can also provide you with words to search for, e.g., in your library catalog. Depending on your local library system, the library can be a great resource to find things that either can be put into the box for your child to explore or can be shown as another example under close supervision.

Some general notes:

• For animals, it could be, e.g., wooden animal figures, stuffed animals, finger puppets, puzzle pieces, etc. 3D objects are better than just flat objects, as they provide more sensory input.
• The box shouldn’t only contain flashcards/ photos, but you can also include some of those. This can be especially helpful for things like colors, people in the child’s life, and hard-to-find-in-object-form things. You can also use flashcards to train object-picture matching.
• Not all things might fit into the box. Many xylophones, for instance, won’t fit into an alphabet box.
• Each idea list also has things on it that might be hard to find in a form that is safe for an alphabet box (independent discovery). However, the ideas can help you get started in pointing out objects (e.g., around the house) that start with the letter of the week.

Ideas for letter A ¹³

Letter A	e.g., letters that can be felt from an alphabet puzzle, sandpaper letters, etc. 2-piece jigsaw puzzle (one side is the letter, the other is a picture of something that starts with the letter)
People starting with A	Aunt Also, people in the child’s life who have a name starting with A (such as Anna or Alon).
Animals starting with A	e.g., alpaca, ant, antelope, albatross, alligator, armadillo if you (or someone in the child’s life) has a breed that starts with A (such as an Alaskan Malamute or Australian Shepherd dog), you can also use that an ‘a’ animal part is antlers
Transportation starting with A	e.g., airplane, airport, ark, ambulance parts: e.g., axel, anchor
Plants and food starting with A	(These are often more to show/ point out under supervision or use as part of a meal, e.g. because some are small and thus a choking hazard in their natural form, or because they make a mess; but sometimes there are toy versions). e.g., acorn, algae, almond, anise, apricot, agave, aloe, aronia, artichoke, asparagus, avocado, allspice, apple, applesauce, amaranth, aubergine, arugula, alphabet soup, and similar things such as alphabet cookies
Clothes starting with A	e.g., apron
Musical instruments starting with A	e.g., accordion, autoharp
Body parts starting with A	e.g., arm, armpit, ankle
Things from around the house starting with A	(Not all of them are suitable/safe to be put into a box. Some are just to point out, such as ash from a fireplace.) e.g., album, alarm, art(work), armchair
Shapes starting with A	e.g., arrow
Jobs starting with A	e.g., automotive engineer, astronaut
(Toy) tools starting with A	e.g., axe, auger, anvil
Other toys starting with A	e.g., arch, arc
Other ideas starting with A	e.g., amber, atlas, asphalt

Ideas for letter B ¹⁴

Letter B	e.g., letters that can be felt from an alphabet puzzle, sandpaper letters, etc. 2-piece jigsaw puzzle (one side is the letter, the other is a picture of something that starts with the letter)
People starting with B	e.g., brother, brother-in-law people in the child’s life who have a name starting with B (such as Blumi or Ben).
Animals starting with B	e.g., baboon, butterfly, bison, badger, bear, bee, bat, beetle, beaver, bird, buffalo, bug if you (or someone in the child’s life) has a breed that starts with B (such as a Beagle dog), you can also use that
Transportation starting with B	e.g., bus
Plants and food starting with B	(These are often more to show/ point out under supervision or use as part of a meal, e.g. because some are small and thus a choking hazard in their natural form, or because they make a mess; but sometimes there are toy versions). e.g., berries, blueberry, blackberry, boysenberry, birch, bamboo, beech, bonsai, basil, bagel, banana, barley, beans, beets, bell pepper, biscuits, bread, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, burger, burrito, butter, beef, bulghur, bay leaves, buckwheat
Clothes starting with B	e.g., bandana, bathing suit, beanie, blouse, bonnet, boots, belt, baseball cap, briefs, bowtie, bolero, bib, bra, button-down shirt, boxers, bracelet
Musical instruments starting with B	e.g., baby grand (piano), bagpipe, banjo, bassoon, bass, bongo drums, bells
Body parts starting with B	e.g., body, belly, belly button, bone, back, beard, brain, boob, breast, butt
Things from around the house starting with B	(Not all of them are suitable/safe to be put into a box. Some are just to point out.) e.g., box, bag, basket, bassinet, bathtub, bed, bench, blanket, broom, bookshelf, button, backpack, bookmark, book, bucket, bell
Colors starting with B	e.g., blue, black, brown, beige
Shapes starting with B	e.g.,
Jobs starting with B	e.g., butcher, blacksmith
(Toy) tools starting with B	e.g.,
Other toys starting with B	e.g., ball, blocks, board, box, bubbles, barn, bridge, boat, balloon, bicycle, baseball
Other ideas starting with B	e.g., boulder, binoculars

Ideas for letter C ¹⁵

Letter C	e.g., letters that can be felt from an alphabet puzzle, sandpaper letters, etc. 2-piece jigsaw puzzle (one side is the letter, the other is a picture of something that starts with the letter)
People starting with C	e.g., cousin people in the child’s life who have a name starting with C (such as Clara or Chaim)
Animals starting with C	e.g., chicken, chick, cow, calf, cat, camel, crocodile, chameleon, crab, crow, caribou, cheetah, chimpanzee, clownfish, coral, cricket, cardinal, caterpillar, centipede, chinchilla, chipmunk, cormorant, cougar, coyote, crane, cockroach if you (or someone in the child’s life) has a breed that starts with E (such as a Collie dog), you can also use that An animal-related word with C is cage
Transportation starting with C	e.g., car, cruise ship, canoe
Plants and food starting with C	(These are often more to show/ point out under supervision or use as part of a meal, e.g. because some are small and thus a choking hazard in their natural form, or because they make a mess; but sometimes there are toy versions). e.g.,  cabbage, calendula, cardamom, cayenne pepper, chia, chili, cilantro, clove, caraway, comfrey, chervil, cumin, curry, coffee, cake, candy, cantaloupe, carrot, cauliflower, celery, cereal, cheese, cottage cheese, cheddar, camembert, cherry, chickpeas, cannellini beans, chives, chocolate, cocoa, cinnamon, coconut, coleslaw, cookies, corn, crackers, cranberry, cream, cucumber, cupcake, canola oil, currant, custard, cashews, cedar, clover, cactus, crocus, carob, chestnut, cous cous
Clothes starting with C	e.g., cap, cloak, clothes, coat, collar, cardigan, coverall, chaps, cuff links, costume, cowboy hat, capris
Musical instruments starting with C	e.g., clarinet, castanets, cello, cymbal Another music-related word is choir.
Body parts starting with C	e.g., calf, cheek, chest, chin, cuticle, collar bone
Things from around the house starting with C	(Not all of them are suitable/safe to be put into a box. Some are just to point out.) e.g.,  calendar, can, candle, carpet, carton, case, chair, chopsticks, clip, clothespin, comb, container, cork, cotton, carrier, cash, cables, clock, corkscrew, cutting board, cooler, cheese grater, cup
Colors starting with C	e.g., cream
Shapes starting with C	e.g., circle
Jobs starting with C	e.g., carpenter, conductor
(Toy) tools starting with C	e.g., chainsaw, circular saw, cutters, chisel, crowbar
Other toys starting with C	e.g., crayon, chalk, crown, carousel
Other ideas starting with C	e.g., camera, computer, confetti, clay, copper, crystal, chain, cliff, cloud, cabin, cottage, curb, crater, coal, caulking

Ideas for letter D ¹⁶

Letter D	e.g., letters that can be felt from an alphabet puzzle, sandpaper letters, etc. 2-piece jigsaw puzzle (one side is the letter, the other is a picture of something that starts with the letter)
People starting with D	e.g., dad people in the child’s life who have a name starting with D (such as Dina or Dan).
Animals starting with D	e.g., dinosaur, duck, dove if you (or someone in the child’s life) has a breed that starts with D (such as a Dalmatian dog), you can also use that
Transportation starting with D	e.g., delivery van, dog sled, dinghy, dump truck
Plants and food starting with D	(These are often more to show/ point out under supervision or use as part of a meal, e.g. because some are small and thus a choking hazard in their natural form, or because they make a mess; but sometimes there are toy versions). e.g., daffodil, dahlia, date, dragon plant, dragonfruit, dwarf anything, daikon, dill, dried anything, dijon mustard
Clothes starting with D	e.g., diaper, denim
Musical instruments starting with D	e.g., drum
Body parts starting with D	e.g., diaphragm
Things from around the house starting with D	(Not all of them are suitable/safe to be put into a box. Some are just to point out.) e.g.,
Colors starting with D	e.g.,
Shapes starting with D	e.g., diamond
Jobs starting with D	e.g., dancer, doctor, driver
(Toy) tools starting with D	e.g.,
Other toys starting with D	e.g., dreidel
Other ideas starting with D	e.g., diamond

Ideas for letter E ¹⁷

Letter E	e.g., letters that can be felt from an alphabet puzzle, sandpaper letters, etc. 2-piece jigsaw puzzle (one side is the letter, the other is a picture of something that starts with the letter)
People starting with E	people in the child’s life who have a name starting with E (such as Eden or Edmund)
Animals starting with E	e.g., eagle, elephant, earthworm, eel, elk, earwig, echidna, egret, emu, ermine if you (or someone in the child’s life) has a breed that starts with E (such as an English shepherd dog), you can also use that
Transportation starting with E	e.g., electric car, elevator, escalator, expressway, exit (sign), engine
Plants and food starting with E	(These are often more to show/ point out under supervision or use as part of a meal, e.g. because some are small and thus a choking hazard in their natural form, or because they make a mess; but sometimes there are toy versions). e.g., eclair, edamame, eggs, eggplant, elderberries, enchiladas, endive, English muffin, echinacea, edelweiss, estragon, eucalyptus, elm Egg carton and enzyme are food-related words starting with E
Clothes starting with E	e.g., earmuffs, earrings, evening gown, equestrian boots, embroidered or elastic anything
Musical instruments starting with E	e.g., electric anything, such as an electric guitar, e-piano, electric violin
Body parts starting with E	e.g., elbow, ears, earwax, esophagus, eyes, eyebrow, eyelid, eyelashes
Things from around the house starting with E	(Not all of them are suitable/safe to be put into a box. Some are just to point out.) e.g., certain numbers such as eight, eleven, eighteen, eighty, etc., easy chair, earphones, envelope, emergency kit, emery board, eraser, extension cord, electrical or exercise anything, encyclopedia, ebook
Colors starting with E	e.g., ebony, ecru, espresso
Shapes starting with E	e.g., ellipsoid
Jobs starting with E	e.g., electrician, engineer
(Toy) tools starting with E	e.g., elastic, electrical tape, exacto knife, egg slicer, electric anything (like a saw), elbow wrench, extractor, etching tools
Other toys starting with E	e.g., easel
Other ideas starting with E	e.g., emerald, embryo (e.g., ultrasound image), emoji, EpiPen, experiment, also anything that has ‘education’ or ‘educational’ in the label, earth, evergreen trees, exhibit, eddy, entrance, echo, event. And environment starts with e, too! If you have a globe, you can also point out the equator as well as the continent of Europe.

Ideas for letter F

Ideas for letter G ¹⁸

Letter G	e.g., letters that can be felt from an alphabet puzzle, sandpaper letters, etc. 2-piece jigsaw puzzle (one side is the letter, the other is a picture of something that starts with the letter)
People starting with G	e.g., grandma, grandpa, great-grandma, great-grandpa, great-aunt, great-uncle people in the child’s life who have a name starting with G (such as Gina or Gershom).
Animals starting with G	e.g., gecko, giraffe, gnat, goose, gopher, grouse, goat, goldfish, guinea pig, gazelle, gerbil, glowworm, gorilla, grizzly bear, goldcrest, gander, goslings, grasshopper, gulls if you (or someone in the child’s life) has a breed that starts with L (such as a Golden Retriever dog), you can also use that
Transportation starting with G	e.g.,  gas and gas tank, garbage truck, golf cart, go-cart, glider
Plants and food starting with L	(These are often more to show/ point out under supervision or use as part of a meal, e.g. because some are small and thus a choking hazard in their natural form, or because they make a mess; but sometimes there are toy versions). e.g., garlic, ginger (and anything containing that in the name, such as ginger ale or gingerbread), gnocchi, glazed anything (e.g., glazed donut), goat anything (e.g., goat cheese or goat kefir), goulash, graham crackers, granola, grapes and grape juice, grapefruit, gravy, green anything (e.g., green beans, green pepper), grilled anything (e.g., grilled cheese), grits, ground meat, guacamole, guava, gummy bears, grain, gourd, goose, gooseberry, Greenwheat (also called Freekeh), Garam Masala, green tea, goji berries
Clothes starting with G	e.g., garment, gear, gloves, goggles, gown, gym clothes, glasses, galoshes, garters, gaiters
Musical instruments starting with G	e.g., glockenspiel, gong, grand piano, guitar
Body parts starting with G	e.g.,  glands, gums, genes, gut, gall bladder
Things from around the house starting with G	(Not all of them are suitable/safe to be put into a box. Some are just to point out.) e.g., garage and garage door opener, garland, gate, gas (heater/ stove, etc.), gift and gift wrap, glass, glitter, globe, glue, grater, grinder, grill, groceries, growth chart, gasket, gap, gel, golden anything (e.g., wedding ring)
Shapes starting with G	The word ‘geometric shape’ itself starts with G. Geoid is a shape-related word starting with G, but it is probably too advanced for the age group that alphabet boxes are generally used for.
Colors starting with G	e.g., grey, green, gold, golden anything (e.g., golden brown), ginger, graphite
Jobs starting with G	e.g., gardener, garbage truck driver
(Toy) tools starting with G	e.g., garden tools, gauge, glue gun
Other toys starting with G	e.g., games, golf, glow-in-the-dark anything, goal (e.g., for soccer)
Other ideas starting with G	e.g., gnome, gem

Ideas for letter H

Letter H	e.g., letters that can be felt from an alphabet puzzle, sandpaper letters, etc. 2-piece jigsaw puzzle (one side is the letter, the other is a picture of something that starts with the letter)
People starting with H	people in the child’s life who have a name starting with H (such as Hanna or Hugh).
Animals starting with H	e.g., hedgehog if you (or someone in the child’s life) has a breed that starts with K (such as a Heeler dog), you can also use that a ‘h’ animal part is a heel
Transportation starting with H	e.g., helo parts: e.g.,
Plants and food starting with H	(These are often more to show/ point out under supervision or use as part of a meal, e.g. because some are small and thus a choking hazard in their natural form, or because they make a mess; but sometimes there are toy versions). e.g.,
Clothes starting with H	e.g.,
Musical instruments starting with H	e.g., harp
Body parts starting with H	e.g., heel, hand
Things from around the house starting with H	(Not all of them are suitable/safe to be put into a box. Some are just to point out.) e.g.,
Shapes starting with H	e.g.,
Jobs starting with H	e.g.,
(Toy) tools starting with H	e.g.,
Other toys starting with H	e.g.,
Other ideas starting with H	e.g.,

Ideas for letter I ¹⁹

Letter I	e.g., letters that can be felt from an alphabet puzzle, sandpaper letters, etc. 2-piece jigsaw puzzle (one side is the letter, the other is a picture of something that starts with the letter)
People starting with I	e.g., in-laws Also, people in the child’s life that have a name starting with I (such as Iain or Ida).
Animals starting with I	e.g., ibex, iguana, inchworm, impala, insect, ibis if you (or someone in the child’s life) has a breed that starts with K (such as an Irish setter dog), you can also use that
Transportation starting with I	parts: e.g.,  ignition
Plants and food starting with I	(These are often more to show/ point out under supervision or use as part of a meal, e.g., because some are small and thus a choking hazard in their natural form, or because they make a mess; but sometimes there are toy versions). e.g., ivy, iceberg lettuce, Inca berries, ice cream, iced tea, icing, instant anything (e.g., instant oatmeal), food that has country names starting with I in it (e.g., Indian curry, Israeli Falafel, Italian bread) There are also varieties of fruit or vegetables that can be used, e.g. Idared is an apple variety, and Idaho potatoes are a potato variety that start with I. Ingredient is a food-related word starting with I
Clothes starting with I	e.g., in-line skates, ice skates, insoles
Musical instruments starting with I	e.g., instrument
Body parts starting with I	e.g., incisor, index finger, iris, immune system, intestine
Things from around the house starting with I	(Not all of them are suitable/safe to be put into a box. Some are just to point out.) e.g., ice anything (e.g., icecubes and icecube tray), illustrations, inhaler, instant pot, ink, insulation, internet, iron and ironing board, iPad/iPhone, infant anything, invitation, ink pen, index, image If a family member has diabetes and needs injections, insulin is another word with i
Colors starting with I	e.g., indigo, ivory
Shapes starting with I	e.g.,
Jobs starting with I	e.g., inspector
(Toy) tools starting with I	e.g.,  icebreaker, icepick, iron bar
Other toys starting with I	e.g.,
Other ideas starting with I	e.g., igloo, in, island, isle, iceberg, icicles, inlet If you have a world map on display: Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, and Italy are countries starting with I Coming back from the walk – Indoor and inside are other I words.

Ideas for letter J

Letter J	e.g., letters that can be felt from an alphabet puzzle, sandpaper letters, etc. 2-piece jigsaw puzzle (one side is the letter, the other is a picture of something that starts with the letter)
People starting with J	people in the child’s life who have a name starting with J (such as Jen or Jonathan).
Animals starting with J	e.g., jaguar if you (or someone in the child’s life) has a breed that starts with J (such as a Jack Russell Terrier dog), you can also use that a ‘j’ animal part is jaw
Transportation starting with J	e.g., jet parts: e.g., jet engine
Plants and food starting with J	(These are often more to show/ point out under supervision or use as part of a meal, e.g., because some are small and thus a choking hazard in their natural form, or because they make a mess; but sometimes there are toy versions). e.g., juniper, jalapeno,
Clothes starting with J	e.g., jeans
Musical instruments starting with J	e.g.,
Body parts starting with J	e.g., jaw
Things from around the house starting with J	(Not all of them are suitable/safe to be put into a box. Some are just to point out.) e.g., jelly
Shapes starting with J	e.g.,
Jobs starting with J	e.g., janitor
(Toy) tools starting with J	e.g., jack hammer
Other toys starting with J	e.g.,
Other ideas starting with J	e.g.,

Ideas for Letter K

Letter K	e.g., letters that can be felt from an alphabet puzzle, sandpaper letters, etc. 2-piece jigsaw puzzle (one side is the letter, the other is a picture of something that starts with the letter)
People starting with K	people in the child’s life who have a name starting with K (such as Kayla or Ken).
Animals starting with K	e.g., kudu, if you (or someone in the child’s life) has a breed that starts with K (such as a King Charles Spaniel dog), you can also use that a ‘k’ animal-related building is a kennel
Transportation starting with K	e.g., parts: e.g.,
Plants and food starting with K	(These are often more to show/ point out under supervision or use as part of a meal, e.g. because some are small and thus a choking hazard in their natural form, or because they make a mess; but sometimes there are toy versions). e.g., kumquat
Clothes starting with K	e.g.,
Musical instruments starting with K	e.g.,
Body parts starting with K	e.g.,
Things from around the house starting with K	(Not all of them are suitable/safe to be put into a box. Some are just to point out.) e.g.,
Shapes starting with K	e.g.,
Colors starting with K	e.g.,
Jobs starting with K	e.g.,
(Toy) tools starting with K	e.g.,
Other toys starting with K	e.g.,
Other ideas starting with K	e.g.,

Ideas for Letter L ²⁰

Letter L	e.g., letters that can be felt from an alphabet puzzle, sandpaper letters, etc. 2-piece jigsaw puzzle (one side is the letter, the other is a picture of something that starts with the letter)
People starting with L	people in the child’s life who have a name starting with L (such as Layla or Liam).
Animals starting with L	e.g., lion, leech, lizard, leopard, lobster, ladybug, lemur, llama, locust, lynx, lamb, lemming if you (or someone in the child’s life) has a breed that starts with L (such as a Labrador dog), you can also use that a ‘l’ animal-related thing is a leash
Transportation starting with L	e.g.,  lifeboat, locomotive, limousine related: e.g., lane
Plants and food starting with L	(These are often more to show/ point out under supervision or use as part of a meal, e.g. because some are small and thus a choking hazard in their natural form, or because they make a mess; but sometimes there are toy versions). e.g., lima bean, lemon, licorice, lime, liver, loaf, lollipop, lentils, leek, lettuce, lamb, lasagna, lily, laurel, lavender, lemongrass, lemon verbena, lilac, linseed, loofah, lotus, lupine, lychee, loquat A leaf is a plant part starting with L
Clothes starting with L	e.g., eotard, leggings, long-sleeved anything, lab coat, leather anything (such as a leather jacket), lace anything (such as a lace dress), loafers, legwarmers, lifejacket, long johns
Musical instruments starting with L	e.g., lute, lyre
Body parts starting with L	e.g.,  leg, limbs, lips, lungs
Things from around the house starting with L	(Not all of them are suitable/safe to be put into a box. Some are just to point out.) e.g., leather, log, latex, lamp, lantern, ladder, lock, luggage, lid, lunch box, loveseat, locket, liquid, lip balm, lint, lighter, light bulb, letters, lens, latch, laundry, leash, ladle, lace, label, lubricant, light, LED
Shapes starting with L	e.g.,
Colors starting with L	e.g., lavender
Jobs starting with L	e.g.,
(Toy) tools starting with L	e.g., lever, leaf blower
Other toys starting with L	e.g., labyrinth, lighthouse, legos, lacing toys
Other ideas starting with L	e.g., laptop, laminator, lake, lodge, landmark, lawn

Ideas for Letter M

Ideas for Letter N

Ideas for Letter O

Ideas for Letter P

Ideas for Letter Q

Ideas for letter R ²¹

Letter R	e.g., letters that can be felt from an alphabet puzzle, sandpaper letters, etc. 2-piece jigsaw puzzle (one side is the letter, the other is a picture of something that starts with the letter)
People starting with R	e.g., relative people in the child’s life who have a name starting with R (such as Ruth or Rick).
Animals starting with R	e.g., rabbit, rat, rattlesnake, robin, raccoon, reindeer, rhinoceros, rodent, rooster, raven, reptile, roadrunner Also, if you have an animal (or somebody in the child’s environment does) whose breed has an R (such as a Rottweiler dog), you can use a photo of the dog and introduce the idea of different breeds
Transportation starting with R	e.g.,  road, race car, railroad, rocket, roller coaster
Plants and food starting with R	(These are often more to show/ point out under supervision or use as part of a meal, e.g. because some are small and thus a choking hazard in their natural form, or because they make a mess; but sometimes there are toy versions). e.g., radish, raisin, raspberry, ratatouille, ravioli, rhubarb, ribs, rice, ricotta cheese, rolls, rosemary, roulade, rye, rose, ramps, rutabaga, radicchio, romanesco, rocket, rockmelon
Clothes starting with R	e.g., raincoat, ring, romper, rubber boots, riding pants
Musical instruments starting with R	e.g., recorder, rainstick
Body parts starting with R	e.g.,  ribs, right arm/leg/…., roots (hair), retina
Things from around the house starting with R	(Not all of them are suitable/safe to be put into a box. Some are just to point out.) e.g., rack, radiator, rag, ramp, recycling bin, refrigerator, rice cooker, remote, ribbon, rocking chair, rolling pin, roof, rope, room, rubbish, rug, rubber band, Roomba, router
Shapes starting with R	e.g., rhombus
Numbers starting with R	e.g.,
Colors starting with R	e.g., red
Jobs starting with R	e.g., radiologist
(Toy) tools starting with R	e.g., rotary saw, rake, rasp, ruler
Other toys starting with R	e.g.,  ragdoll, rattle, rocking horse (or whatever other animal/thing), rainbow, robot, roller skates
Other ideas starting with R	e.g., reward, rain, rock, river

Ideas for Letter S

Ideas for letter T ²²

Letter T	e.g., letters that can be felt from an alphabet puzzle, sandpaper letters, etc. 2-piece jigsaw puzzle (one side is the letter, the other is a picture of something that starts with the letter)
People starting with T	people in the child’s life who have a name starting with L (such as Tara or Tom).
Animals starting with T	e.g., termite, tiger, tortoise, turtle, tapir, trout, tuna, tick, toucan, turkey, toad, tadpole if you (or someone in the child’s life) has a breed that starts with L (such as a Terrier), you can also use that
Transportation starting with T	e.g.,  train, taxi, tower, train track, truck, trolley, tram
Plants and food starting with T	(These are often more to show/ point out under supervision or use as part of a meal, e.g. because some are small and thus a choking hazard in their natural form, or because they make a mess; but sometimes there are toy versions). e.g., tamarind, tapioca, thyme, tomato, tree, tulip, turmeric, turnip, tea, turkey, tahini, tarragon, tempeh, tofu, trout, tuna, tamarillo, tacos, toast, tortilla (chips) A thorn is a plant part starting with T
Clothes starting with T	e.g., trousers, t-shirt, tank top, tread socks, tie, tights, turban, tux, tweed jacket, top, trench coat, tunic, turtleneck, tutu, tuxedo, tichel Also, anything with a tie-dye design
Musical instruments starting with T	e.g., tambourine, tuba, trombone, trumpet
Body parts starting with T	e.g.,  toe, tongue, teeth, thigh, throat, thumb, torso, tummy, temple, triceps
Things from around the house starting with T	(Not all of them are suitable/safe to be put into a box. Some are just to point out.) e.g., table, table cloth, tag, tape, tape recorder, tassel, tea cup/pot, thermometer, tissues, toilet paper, toothbrush, tote, towel, trap, trash, tray, tub, tweezers, timer
Shapes starting with T	e.g., trapezoid, triangle
Numbers starting with T	e.g.,  three, ten, twelve, thirteen, thirty
Colors starting with T	e.g., teal, turquoise, tan
Jobs starting with T	e.g., teacher, therapist
(Toy) tools starting with T	e.g.,toolbox, tape measure, tire iron, t bar
Other toys starting with T	e.g.,  tiara, toga, target, teddy bear, tennis ball, tent, tongs, trampoline, toy, treasure, tricycle, trophy, telescope, torch, tractor, ticket
Other ideas starting with T	e.g., TV, telephone, textbook, thimble, thread, typewriter, trail.

Ideas for Letter U

Ideas for Letter V

Ideas for letter W ²³

Letter W	e.g., letters that can be felt from an alphabet puzzle, sandpaper letters, etc. 2-piece jigsaw puzzle (one side is the letter, the other is a picture of something that starts with the letter)
People starting with W	people in the child’s life who have a name starting with W (such as Wendy or Warren).
Animals starting with W	e.g., wasp, wallaby, weasel, wombat, walrus, wolf, worm, woodpecker, water buffalo, whale, wild boar, wildebeest, wolverine, woodchuck, woolly mammoth if you (or someone in the child’s life) has a breed that starts with L (such as a Welsh Terrier), you can also use that
Transportation starting with W	e.g.,  walker, wagon, windshield, wiper blades, wheels
Plants and food starting with W	(These are often more to show/ point out under supervision or use as part of a meal, e.g., because some are small and thus a choking hazard in their natural form, or because they make a mess; but sometimes there are toy versions). e.g., wafers, waffles, walnuts, water, watermelon, watercress, wheat, winter squash, wraps, waterlily, willow, wasabi, wild anything (e.g., wild rice)
Clothes starting with W	e.g., waders, waistcoat, watch, wallet, wedding ring, wedding gown, work boots, wetsuit, wig, windbreaker
Musical instruments starting with W	e.g., wind chimes, washboard, whistle
Body parts starting with W	e.g.,  waist, wrinkles, wrist, womb
Things from around the house starting with W	(Not all of them are suitable/safe to be put into a box. Some are just to point out.) e.g., wall, wallpaper, washing machine, wastebasket, window, windowsill, wood, wool, wrapper, wreath
Shapes starting with W	e.g.,
Numbers starting with W	e.g.,
Colors starting with W	e.g., white
Jobs starting with W	e.g.,welder
(Toy) tools starting with W	e.g., wrench, winch, welder
Other toys starting with W	e.g., watercolor paints, water gun, wiffle ball, wedge, waterwheel
Other ideas starting with W	e.g., wire, wax, wetlands, wave

Ideas for Letter X

Ideas for Letter Y

Ideas for letter Z ²⁴

Letter Z	e.g., letters that can be felt from an alphabet puzzle, sandpaper letters, etc. 2-piece jigsaw puzzle (one side is the letter, the other is a picture of something that starts with the letter)
People starting with Z	people in the child’s life who have a name starting with Z (such as Zara or Zed).
Animals starting with Z	e.g., zebra, zebra finch, zebra fish, zooplankton, zebu
Transportation starting with Z	e.g.,  zeppelin
Plants and food starting with Z	(These are often more to show/ point out under supervision or use as part of a meal, e.g. because some are small and thus a choking hazard in their natural form, or because they make a mess; but sometimes there are toy versions). e.g., atar, Zucchini, Zander (a type of fish), zest, Zwieback (a type of bread)
Clothes starting with Z	e.g., anything with a zipper, zip-off pants
Musical instruments starting with Z	e.g., zither
Body parts starting with Z	e.g.,  zit (not really a body part, but can sometimes be found on some bodies)
Things from around the house starting with Z	(Not all of them are suitable/safe to be put into a box. Some are just to point out.) e.g., zip-lock bag, zester
Shapes starting with Z	e.g.,
Numbers starting with Z	e.g., zero, zilch, zillion
Colors starting with Z	e.g.,
Jobs starting with Z	e.g., zoologist
(Toy) tools starting with Z	e.g., zip ties
Other toys starting with Z	e.g.,  zoo, zip line
Other ideas starting with Z	e.g., a zone (such as a no parking zone), zenith, zirconium, and anything with a zigzag shape

How do alphabet boxes work for bilingual or multilingual children?

None of the sites I’ve read so far specifically addresses how to make alphabet boxes for bilingual or multilingual children. There are different options. One is that each language gets its own box. So you might have a red box for English that has a drum and duck. And a yellow box for German that has a Dachs (badger) and Deckel (lid). That is, if you want to do the same letter/sound. You could also do a different sound in each of the languages. For young toddlers, if more than one box is out, their contents will likely get mixed. So one option is to have separate boxes, and just have one box out at a time until the children are old enough to engage in sorting activities. Others seem to prefer to have bilingual labels²⁵

I haven’t found any research that specifically addresses which option is best for bilingual learners.

Is using alphabet boxes effective for children, whether they are monolingual, bilingual, or multilingual?

And for that question, there is no easy research-based answer. At least I haven’t found a study that specifically addresses alphabet boxes yet.

That said, there is other research that can give us some clues.

First of all, research says that unstructured play is very important²⁶ for young children.

However, research in math shows that math talk and diverse number activities are good predictors of early math skills.²⁶ Moreover, studies show again and again that what researchers call the ‘home literacy environment’ is very important for children’s language development (e.g., vocabulary) and learning to read (e.g., letter knowledge, phoneme awareness, decoding skills)²⁷.

A particularly relevant example of research: One²⁸ study found that how much parents talk with their preschoolers has a big impact on “the number of words they know when they enter school”. But: the easier it was to guess the words the parents were saying to their 14- to 18-month-old child on a muted video (based just on e.g. the visual context), the better the “children’s vocabulary 3 y[ears] later, even after controlling for” how much the parents spoke (quantity).

Alphabet boxes offer a chance to talk to your toddler, and the objects provide a powerful visual clue. So they seem like a good tool to support your toddler’s or preschooler’s language development.

References

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   Colleen (2020). Montessori Language: Beginning Sound Object Boxes https://www.elevatortoheaven.com/montessori-language-beginning-sound-object-boxes/ (last checked Sep 10, 2023)
   Thayer, A. (2013) Alphabet Sound Box — A Fun Way to Learn Letter Sounds https://teachingmama.org/alphabet-sound-box/ (last checked Sep 10, 2023)
   Stir the Wonder (n.d.) DIY MINI MONTESSORI ALPHABET BOX https://www.stirthewonder.com/diy-mini-montessori-alphabet-box/ (last checked Sep 10, 2023)
   How we Montessori (2015). Our Montessori Alphabet Box https://www.howwemontessori.com/how-we-montessori/2015/09/10-alphabet-box.html (last checked Sep 10, 2023)
   How we Montessori (2021). Our DIY Montessori Sound / Letter Boxes – using recycled materials & what we have on hand https://www.howwemontessori.com/how-we-montessori/2021/08/our-diy-montessori-soundletter-box-using-recycled-what-we-have-on-hand.html (last checked Sep 10, 2023)
   Darmawaskita, D. (2019). Montessori at home: DIY Alphabet Box. https://inspirekidsmontessori.com/montessori-at-home-diy-alphabet-box/ (last checked Sep 10, 2023)
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   ↩︎
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   Thayer, A. (2013) Alphabet Sound Box — A Fun Way to Learn Letter Sounds https://teachingmama.org/alphabet-sound-box/ (last checked Sep 10, 2023)
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   ↩︎
3. Click Pray Love (2011). Pre-Toddler (12-18 month) Activity #2: Alphabet Box http://www.clickpraylove.com/2011/07/pre-toddler-12-18-month-activity-2.html (last checked Sep 10, 2023) ↩︎
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5. How we Montessori. (2020). Developing Phonological Awareness – Our Focus & Activities At 2-3 Years https://www.howwemontessori.com/how-we-montessori/2020/08/developing-phonological-awareness-our-focus-and-activities-at-2-3-years.html (last checked Sep 11, 2023) ↩︎
6. How we Montessori. (2020). Developing Phonological Awareness – Our Focus & Activities At 2-3 Years https://www.howwemontessori.com/how-we-montessori/2020/08/developing-phonological-awareness-our-focus-and-activities-at-2-3-years.html (last checked Sep 11, 2023)
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16. https://www.enchantedlearning.com/wordlist/transportation.shtml, https://aclandanatomy.com/atoz.aspx, https://www.thespruce.com/plants-a-to-z-5116344, https://www.thefoodcoach.com.au/food/?Alpha=D ↩︎
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Enchanted Learning. Clothes vocabulary list https://www.enchantedlearning.com/wordlist/clothes.shtml (last checked Nov 17, 2023)
Colors starting with G https://colorful.fandom.com/wiki/List_of_colors_starting_with_G (last checked Dec 22, 2023)
Category. Geometric shapes https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Geometric_shapes (last checked Dec 15, 2023)
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    ↩︎
19. Animals that start with I https://a-z-animals.com/animals/animals-that-start-with-i/ (last checked Jan 12, 2024) 2 The Spruce. Plants A to Z. https://www.thespruce.com/plants-a-to-z-5116344 (last checked Jan 12, 2024) 3 The Food Coach. Healthy Food Database. https://www.thefoodcoach.com.au/food/?Alpha=I(last checked Jan 12, 2024) 4 Desment, L. (2022) Clothing That Starts With Each Letter: 291 Garments from A to Z https://wisforwebsite.com/clothing-that-starts-with/ (last checked Jan 12, 2024) 5 Inspire the mom. 100+ objects that start with I. https://www.inspirethemom.com/100-objects-that-start-with-i/ (last checked Jan 12, 2024) 6 Word Schools. List Of Tools That Start With A To Z – Tools Vocabulary https://wordschools.com/tools-that-start-with-a-to-z/(last checked Jan 12, 2024) 8 Colors starting with I https://colorful.fandom.com/wiki/List_of_colors_starting_with_I (last checked Jan 12, 2024) 10 Osmo. List of I words for kids https://www.playosmo.com/kids-learning/i-words-for-kids/ (last checked Jan 12, 2024) ↩︎
20. 1Animals that start with L https://a-z-animals.com/animals/animals-that-start-with-l/ (last checked Nov 19, 2023) 2 The Spruce. Plants A to Z. https://www.thespruce.com/plants-a-to-z-5116344 (last checked Nov 17, 2023) The Food Coach. Healthy Food Database. https://www.thefoodcoach.com.au/food/?Alpha=L (last checked Nov 19, 2023) Desment, L. (2022) Clothing That Starts With Each Letter: 291 Garments from A to Z https://wisforwebsite.com/clothing-that-starts-with/ (last checked Nov 17, 2023) 5 Inspire the mom. 100+ objects that start with L. https://www.inspirethemom.com/100-objects-that-start-with-l/ (last checked Nov 19, 2023) Word Schools. List Of Tools That Start With A To Z – Tools Vocabulary https://wordschools.com/tools-that-start-with-a-to-z/(last checked Nov 17, 2023) Enchanted Learning. Clothes vocabulary list https://www.enchantedlearning.com/wordlist/clothes.shtml (last checked Nov 17, 2023) ↩︎
21. Animals that start with R https://a-z-animals.com/animals/animals-that-start-with-r/ (last checked Nov 19, 2023)
    The Spruce. Plants A to Z. https://www.thespruce.com/plants-a-to-z-5116344 (last checked Nov 17, 2023) The Food Coach. Healthy Food Database. https://www.thefoodcoach.com.au/food/?Alpha=R (last checked Nov 19, 2023)
    Desment, L. (2022) Clothing That Starts With Each Letter: 291 Garments from A to Z https://wisforwebsite.com/clothing-that-starts-with/ (last checked Nov 17, 2023)
    Inspire the mom. 100+ objects that start with R. https://www.inspirethemom.com/100-objects-that-start-with-R/ (last checked Nov 17, 2023)
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    Enchanted Learning. Clothes vocabulary list https://www.enchantedlearning.com/wordlist/clothes.shtml (last checked Nov 17, 2023) ↩︎
22. Animals that start with T https://a-z-animals.com/animals/animals-that-start-with-t/ (last checked Nov 27, 2023) The Spruce. Plants A to Z. https://www.thespruce.com/plants-a-to-z-5116344 (last checked Nov 17, 2023) 3 The Food Coach. Healthy Food Database. https://www.thefoodcoach.com.au/food/?Alpha=T (last checked Nov 27, 2023) Desment, L. (2022) Clothing That Starts With Each Letter: 291 Garments from A to Z https://wisforwebsite.com/clothing-that-starts-with/ (last checked Nov 17, 2023) Inspire the mom. 100+ objects that start with t. https://www.inspirethemom.com/100-objects-that-start-with-t/ (last checked Nov 17, 2023) Word Schools. List Of Tools That Start With A To Z – Tools Vocabulary https://wordschools.com/tools-that-start-with-a-to-z/(last checked Nov 17, 2023) Enchanted Learning. Clothes vocabulary list https://www.enchantedlearning.com/wordlist/clothes.shtml (last checked Nov 17, 2023); AI ↩︎
23. Animals that start with W https://a-z-animals.com/animals/animals-that-start-with-w/ (last checked Nov 17, 2023) 2 The Spruce. Plants A to Z. https://www.thespruce.com/plants-a-to-z-5116344 (last checked Nov 17, 2023) 3 The Food Coach. Healthy Food Database. https://www.thefoodcoach.com.au/food/?Alpha=W (last checked Nov 17, 2023) 4 Desment, L. (2022) Clothing That Starts With Each Letter: 291 Garments from A to Z https://wisforwebsite.com/clothing-that-starts-with/ (last checked Nov 17, 2023) 5 Inspire the mom. 100+ objects that start with W. https://www.inspirethemom.com/100-objects-that-start-with-w/ (last checked Nov 17, 2023) 6 Word Schools. List Of Tools That Start With A To Z – Tools Vocabulary https://wordschools.com/tools-that-start-with-a-to-z/(last checked Nov 17, 2023) 7 Enchanted Learning. Clothes vocabulary list https://www.enchantedlearning.com/wordlist/clothes.shtml (last checked Nov 17, 2023) ↩︎
24. Animals that start with Z https://a-z-animals.com/animals/animals-that-start-with-z/ (last checked Dec 4, 2023) The Spruce. Plants A to Z. https://www.thespruce.com/plants-a-to-z-5116344 (last checked Nov 17, 2023) 3 The Food Coach. Healthy Food Database. https://www.thefoodcoach.com.au/food/?Alpha=Z (last checked Dec 4, 2023) Desment, L. (2022) Clothing That Starts With Each Letter: 291 Garments from A to Z https://wisforwebsite.com/clothing-that-starts-with/ (last checked Nov 17, 2023) Inspire the mom. 100+ objects that start with Z. https://www.inspirethemom.com/100-objects-that-start-with-z/(last checked Dec 4, 2023) 6 Word Schools. List Of Tools That Start With A To Z – Tools Vocabulary https://wordschools.com/tools-that-start-with-a-to-z/(last checked Nov 17, 2023) Enchanted Learning. Clothes vocabulary list https://www.enchantedlearning.com/wordlist/clothes.shtml (last checked Nov 17, 2023) Hance, J. (2012) Animal picture of the day: the gray zorro https://news.mongabay.com/2012/04/animal-picture-of-the-day-the-gray-zorro/ (last checked Dec 4, 2023) Dictionary: Words that start with z https://www.dictionary.com/e/word-finder/words-that-start-with-z/ (last checked Dec 4) ↩︎
25. Tuosto, K. M. (2023) EMBARK ON A SAFARI ADVENTURE WITH SENSORY PLAY! https://www.goodnightfox.com/blog/safari-animals (last checked Nov 9, 2023) ↩︎
26. Miller, P.; Elliot, L.E., Podvysotska, T.; Ptak, C.; Duong, S.; Fox, D.; Coulanges, L.; Libertus, M; Bachman, H.J.; & Votruba-Drzal, E. (2023). Toddler home math environment: Triangulating multi-method assessments in a U.S. Sample https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1105569/full (last checked Aug 20, 2023) ↩︎
27. e.g., Foy, J.G. & Mann, V. (2003). Home literacy environment and phonological awareness in preschool children: Differential effects for rhyme and phoneme awareness (Abstract) Applied Psycholinguistics. https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/applied-psycholinguistics/article/abs/home-literacy-environment-and-phonological-awareness-in-preschool-children-differential-effects-for-rhyme-and-phoneme-awareness/6014F36E3A3833A6C4AF79FE0E3A0324, Kim, S., Im, H. Kwon, K.A. (2015). The Role of Home Literacy Environment in Toddlerhood in Development of Vocabulary and Decoding Skills (abstract) https://www.researchgate.net/publication/272831680_The_Role_of_Home_Literacy_Environment_in_Toddlerhood_in_Development_of_Vocabulary_and_Decoding_Skills ↩︎
28. Cartmilla, E.A., Armstrong, B.F., Gleitmanb, L.R., Goldin-Meadowa, S., Medinac, T:H. & Trueswell, J.C. Quality of early parent input predicts child vocabulary 3 years later. https://www.pnas.org/doi/epdf/10.1073/pnas.1309518110 (abstract) ↩︎