Phonics at home: starting with first sounds

"Phonics" is a word you hear in many schools, and parents sometimes worry they are teaching it wrong. Relax. At home, phonics begins with something simple: listening for sounds.

What is phonics?

Phonics means linking the sounds of a language to the letters that stand for them. A child who knows that "b" says "buh" can start to read and spell "ball". But before letters, children need to hear sounds in words. That is where to start.

Start with listening

Before showing any letters, play listening games for a week or two.

• Sound walk: "What can you hear? A crow! A horn! The pressure cooker!"
• Clap the words: clap once for each part of a word: ba-na-na, el-e-phant, Ma-mi.
• Rhyming play: "Cat, mat, hat. Can you find a word that sounds like 'bat'?" Silly words are allowed.
• Rhymes and songs: they train the ear naturally. See why nursery rhymes matter.

Then: first sounds

Pick one sound at a time. Say it short and clean: "mmm", not "muh-uh". Use a sound your child already likes, such as the first sound in their name.

Games to play:

• I spy: "I spy something that starts with 'mmm'. It's on the table. Mango!"
• Bag of things: put in 4 or 5 small objects, such as a spoon, a sock, a sticker. Ask: "Which starts with 'sss'?"
• Sound hunt: "Find three things in the kitchen that start with 'p'."
• Name game: "Aarav starts with 'aaa'. Who else starts with 'aaa'?"

Keep sessions to five minutes or less.

Which sounds first?

There is more than one valid order, and schools use different programmes. Many start with sounds like s, a, t, p, i, n, which let children make simple words quickly. Ask your child's teacher which order the school uses and match it, so your child isn't confused.

Names and sounds

Teach both the letter name and the letter sound, though sounds are the more helpful ones for reading. Be careful with extra sounds: aim for "b" not "buh". Keep it light and don't worry about perfect pronunciation.

Hindi and other languages

Hindi and many Indian languages are very sound-friendly. Each letter of the varnamala has a clear sound, which can help children. In Hindi you can play the same games: "अ से अनार, आ से आम." See Hindi letters at home. Children can enjoy sounds in two languages. See raising a child in Hindi and English.

Blending, later

When your child knows a few sounds and hears them well, you can try blending: "c... a... t. Cat!" This usually comes later, and some children need more time. There is no need to hurry.

Things to avoid

• Long drills or worksheets at this age
• Correcting every error. Model it instead: "Yes, that starts with 'mmm', like 'mango'."
• Comparing with other children

When to talk to someone

If your child has trouble hearing, rarely uses words, or seems to find it very hard to hear differences between sounds, speak with your paediatrician or teacher. A hearing check is simple and can be worthwhile. A wide range is normal.

How Child Runway helps

Child Runway has 2 to 5 minute story lessons for letters with a song and a game after each. The child says the sound, answers and moves along, and you get something to try at home, like a first-sound hunt around the house. Lessons are available in six language versions, including Hindi and Hindi + English. No ads and it works offline.