What is a common characteristic of preschoolers' letter usage?

Preschoolers often demonstrate a tendency to use letters randomly, reflecting their developmental stage in literacy. At this age, children are typically exploring the concept of writing—and they may not yet understand conventional rules about letter formation, capitalization, or the specific usage of consonants and vowels. As they experiment, they might write letters they recognize or are familiar with, without a clear organization or adherence to the phonetic structure of language.

This random use of letters allows them to engage in the writing process and express their thoughts, even if the output doesn’t follow typical spelling or grammar. It highlights their exploration and cognitive engagement with the alphabet as they make sense of its function in communication. This stage is crucial, as it lays the groundwork for more structured literacy skills as they develop further.