Learning Phonics Can Be Fun!

Helping children understand and recognise the relationship between letters and sounds is an essential part of learning. Having a solid understanding of phonics can be extremely beneficial for speaking, writing, and reading – but where do you begin? To make learning phonics easier, check out some of these fun phonics activities.   

1. Sensory Phonics Play. Exploring new letter sounds (and remembering them!) can be tricky for younger kids. Bringing a sensory activity to the table may change this. Little ones will love hands-on phonics play such as alphabet sand moulds, which are great for using with play dough or sand to create various letter patterns. Sensory phonics activities are superb for capturing attention, making this activity perfect for early years learning. Watch the video above to see how children could use letter moulds for sensory phonics play.  

2. Phonics Flashcards. Flashcards are a fabulous way to consolidate phonics learning, as children get speedier at noticing different sounds. These textured phonics flashcards feature 40 spelling patterns and are excellent for sensory learning at home or school. You can also download free letters and sounds Phase 3 Phonics flashcards that are beautifully designed with engaging illustrations. Simply print these free phonics games and laminate them to use again and again. Plus, they can be used at home or in classrooms and are fit for individual or group usage.  

3. Phonics Activities. Phonics activities such as rearranging letters can help children remember different sounds. Try pairing educational toys such as framed whiteboards with wooden magnetic letters or jumbo lowercase magnetic letters. Children can search for the correct letters and spell the word on their whiteboard. Study the word for up to one minute (sand timer educational toys are perfect for this) and discuss which letters are making the different sounds. Jumble the magnetic letters and ask the children to spell the word again. Children can use whiteboard pens to underline different sounds to help them remember where to place the letters.  

4. Phonics Games for Kids. Searching for educational phonics games? Luckily for you, there are heaps of wonderful phonics games for kids! Try educational toys like these colourful Snap-n-Learn Rhyming Pups; not only do they support early word-building skills, but they also promote fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination. Orchard Toys phonics games such as Slug in a Jug and Pass the Word encourage recognition of letter patterns, which in turn can boost spelling and reading skills. More phonics games for kids include chunky wooden spelling puzzles, travel-friendly phonics boxes, rainbow phonics dominoes, and coloured phonics cubes. 

Work Cited
“7 Phonics Activities for Kids.” WordUnited, 18 November 2019, https://wordunited.com/7-phonics-activities-for-kids/. Accessed 7 November 2024.