To teach children Tamil reading and writing effectively, it is best to use a systematic approach that introduces the script basics, leverages engaging resources like stories and activities, and encourages consistent practice.

Foundational Steps

Learn the Alphabets: Start with the fundamentals of the Tamil script, which has 12 vowels (Uyir Ezhuthukkal), 18 consonants (Mei Ezhuthukkal), and 216 combined characters (Uyirmei Ezhuthukkal), plus one special character. Writing practice for each letter helps with recognition and formation.
Combine Letters: Gradually teach how vowels and consonants combine to form compound letters. This is the core of Tamil script mastery.
Simple Words and Sentences: Once a few letter combinations are learned, introduce simple one- and two-letter words, progressing to basic sentences.