5 ways to help kids sound out words - the art of phonics
Educational and Fun Activities
Written by Gregg Payne
18 September 2024
🕓 3 min
Phonics is an essential part of teaching young children how to read. It helps them understand the relationship between letters and sounds, enabling them to break down words and read more confidently. If you’re looking for effective ways to support your child in learning to sound out words, here are five simple and fun strategies to try at home. These phonics techniques will help build strong reading skills and foster a love for language!
1. Use Phonics Games to Make Learning Fun
One of the best ways to engage children in phonics is by turning it into a game. There are many phonics-based games available that help children practise sounding out words in an interactive and playful way. Whether it's board games, card games, or online apps, these games make learning exciting and help reinforce phonics concepts in a fun, stress-free environment.
Examples:
- Phonics bingo: Create a bingo board with letters or word sounds, and call out words. Kids have to match the correct sound on their board.
- Phonics apps: There are many apps that make phonics practice fun by incorporating interactive word games and challenges.
For more playful learning ideas, check out our post 5 Child-Friendly Ways to Visualise Sound at Home.
2. Break Words Into Sounds (Segmenting)
When children encounter new words, break them down into individual sounds (a process called segmenting) to make them easier to decode. For example, if your child is trying to read the word “cat,” help them say the sounds separately: /k/ /a/ /t/. Then, blend the sounds together to say the whole word: “cat.”
How to help:
- Encourage your child to say each sound slowly and clearly.
- Clap or tap for each sound to help them hear the separation between the sounds.
This method helps children understand that words are made up of different sounds, and it strengthens their ability to sound out unfamiliar words.
3. Play “I Spy” with Sounds
“I Spy” is a simple and effective game to help children practise listening to sounds and matching them to words. Instead of focusing on letters, use sounds in your version of “I Spy.” For example, say, “I spy something that starts with the sound /s/,” and your child might answer “sock” or “spoon.”
This game helps children focus on the initial sounds in words and connect those sounds with letters.
How to play:
- Begin with initial sounds (like /s/ for “sock”).
- Gradually introduce middle and ending sounds as they become more confident, such as the /t/ sound at the end of “hat.”
4. Create Sound Jars or Boxes
Make phonics hands-on with sound jars or boxes. These are containers filled with objects that all start with the same sound. For example, you might have a jar with a toy car, a cup, and a crayon—all beginning with the sound /k/. Ask your child to name the items and identify the sound they all share.
This helps children isolate individual sounds in a playful and interactive way, making phonics tangible and memorable.
How to make:
- Choose a sound (like /m/) and find small objects around the house that begin with that sound (marble, mug, marker).
- Let your child explore the jar or box and talk about the sounds each object makes.
5. Sing Phonics Songs
Songs are a fantastic way to make phonics fun. Singing phonics songs helps children remember sounds and letters in a musical, rhythmic way. There are many popular phonics songs that teach letter sounds and blending, making it easy for kids to sing along while practising phonics skills.
Examples:
- The Alphabet Song: It teaches letter names, and you can extend it by adding the sounds of each letter as you sing.
- Phonics-specific songs: Many phonics programmes have catchy songs that introduce letter sounds and help children blend sounds into words.
Singing songs reinforces phonics through repetition, helping children master sounds in a fun, engaging way.
Final Thoughts
Helping children learn to sound out words through phonics is a rewarding process that builds a strong foundation for reading. By using games, hands-on activities, and interactive methods, you can make phonics an enjoyable part of your child’s day. These five techniques will not only improve their reading skills but also boost their confidence and love for language.
If your child enjoys learning through fun and interactive methods, they’ll love our Science of Sound holiday camps, where we combine science, sound, and creative activities for an enriching experience. Learn more about our upcoming camps here and see how we make learning fun!
