Are you ready to embark on an exciting adventure with your preschoolers into the world of phonics? Buckle up, because we’re about to dive into a step-by-step approach that will make learning phonics a blast for both you and your little ones.
Preschooler Phonics – 20 Steps Point Guide
Step 1: Set the Stage
First things first, create a cozy and inviting learning space. Gather comfy cushions, colorful posters, and maybe even a soft rug. Your preschoolers will feel like superstars in their own little learning corner. It would be even more fun and meaningful if you plan this and decorate this space with your kid or kids.
Step 2: Alphabet Magic
Include in your décor, the alphabet chart or cut-outs of alphabets that young children can familiarize with on a daily basis. This could also mean when you start sessions with them you could start with the ABCs! Sing the alphabet song together while pointing to each letter. Make it a ritual. Soon enough, your munchkins will be singing along like pros.
Step 3: Letter Friends
Give each letter a quirky personality. Make “A” an acrobat, “B” a bouncing ball, and so on. Create stories with these letter friends to help your child remember them better.
To get ideas I personally find the Letterland program very helpful. Examples here are Annie Apple, ‘a’ is in Apple; Bouncy Ben, ‘b’ as in bunny and Clever Cat, ‘c’ as in cat
Notice that you can make your child finger draw in the air the respective letter while saying out the letter such as ‘b’ and “Boun-cy Ben”. Children will remember better the tall vertical line to represent ‘bunny-ears’ and the round line, its face.
Step 4: Phonemic Hops
Time for some phonemic fun! Choose a letter and hop around, saying words that start with that letter. For “C,” you can hop like a cat and say “cat,” “car,” and “cake.” Your little one will be giggling and learning at the same time! Then all will get on their feet and start hopping to the “Cle-ver Cat” jingle.
Step 5: Phonics Treasure Hunt
Hide letter cards around the house and turn the search into a ’Phonics Treasure Hunt’. When your preschoolers finds the letters, encourage them to say their corresponding sounds. This activity combines learning and play seamlessly.
Step 6: Rhyming Riddles
Introduce rhyming words through riddles. “I’m something you wear on your head, rhymes with rat.” Your kid will be delighted to discover that the answer is “hat”!
Step 7: Blend it Together
Start combining letter sounds. Make it playful—imagine you’re blending sounds to make a delicious smoothie! “Sss-aaa-tt, SAT!” Once your child gets the hang of it, the first steps towards reading and speaking begin.
Step 8: Sensational Storytime
Choose books with rhymes and repetition. These are goldmines for phonics learning. Point out words that start with the same sound or rhyme. Book sets like Bob Books, Paw Patrol Phonics Box and Dr. Seuss book sets are especially fantastic for this!
Step 9: Word Family Picnic
Pick a word family like “-at” and have a picnic with all its members: hat, fat, cat, mat, bat, pat, rat, sat, tat, vat. You can even create word family cards and sort them together. Yes, a project just making family cards with end-sounds or start-sounds could prove a gem. These cards can turn into games with the family’s own rules and will make good card games to bring on holidays.
Step 10: Make up more Games
One way would be to create phonics games using flashcards. Show a card and have your preschooler find an object in the room that starts with the same sound. It’s a win-win—learning and burning energy!
Step 11: Tech Time
There are some awesome phonics apps and videos out there. Choose ones that can engage your child with colorful visuals and catchy tunes. Just remember, screen time only in moderation!
Some wonderful ones are “Phonics Genius”, “Hooked on Phonics Learn and Read”, “Endless Alphabet” and “Wonster Words”.
Step 12: Name that Sound
Play “Name that Sound” during car rides. Make the sounds of various objects, animals, or vehicles, and ask your kiddos to guess what’s making the sound. This sharpens their phonemic awareness.
Step 13: Magnetic Marvels
Invest in some magnetic letters. Your children can arrange them to spell out simple words. Plus, they’ll have a blast sticking them on the fridge! There are also magnetic sheets that can be cut to size on sale so you and your little ones can make fun word signs to hang on fridges on magnetic-backed walls.
Step 14: Praise and Patience
Celebrate every small achievement. If your preschoolers nail\s a tricky sound or reads a simple word, shower them with praise. Remember, learning takes time—be patient and encouraging.
Step 15: Everyday Encounters
Spot letters and sounds everywhere—in street signs, cereal boxes, and storybooks. Point them out casually to reinforce what your preschooler is learning. Ask if he or she can guess what the word is and what it means.
Step 16: Play with Poetry
Explore nursery rhymes and playful poems. The rhythm and rhyme schemes will capture your childen’s attention while enhancing their phonemic skills. Try learning nursery rhymes with Timberly Wimberly in You Tube.
Alliteration is good and some tongue twisters can be fun. “Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers.” and “Miss Mary Mack”. Hearing repeated sounds through games and activities are perfect ways to teach alliteration in their early years.
Step 17: Word Building Blocks
Introduce simple word-building games. Use letter tiles or blocks to construct words. Start with CVC (consonant-vowel-consonant) words like “cat” and “dog.” And move on to ‘ch’ and ‘sh’. You can read Harry’s Stories in Letterland such as ‘sh’ as in “shop” in Sammy Snake and Harry Hat Man. Walter’s Stories have sounds such as ‘ow’ as in “out’ in Oscar Orange and Walter Walrus.
Step 18: Family Fun Night
Host a family game night featuring word-building challenges. Take turns forming words and encourage your preschoolers and siblings and cousins to sound them out.
Step 19: Story Creation
Let your little ones create their own stories. They can draw pictures and dictate a story to you. This encourages them to use the phonics skills they’ve learned.
Step 20: Keep the Fun Alive
Remember, the goal is to keep it fun and engaging. Every child is unique, so adapt these steps to suit your preschooler’s pace and preferences.
And there you have it—20 steps to introducing phonics to your preschooler in a playful and engaging way. With a mix of games, storytelling, and creative activities, you’ll be amazed at how quickly your child picks up those essential phonics skills. So, grab your letter cards, put on your best funny voices, and embark on this exciting phonics adventure together!
Ready to take your preschooler phonics higher, check out SAE program.