Phonemic awareness is hearing and playing with the small sounds in spoken words. It is all about listening, so no letters are needed yet.
Let's learn
- Say “cat” slowly: /c/ /a/ /t/. That word has three sounds.
- Play “I spy something that starts with /m/”.
- Clap, tap and stretch words together.
- Keep games short and silly.
Watch out for
- Starting with letters. These games are for ears, not eyes.
Make it fit your reader
- Easier: Play with first sounds only.
- Harder: Count the sounds in short words like “dog” and “sun”.
Practice activity
- I spy sounds: play I spy using first sounds instead of colors.
- Sound walk: name five things on a walk and say their first sound.
Tip for grown-ups: Keep practice short and cheerful: 10 to 15 minutes is plenty for young readers. Praise effort, let your child point to the words, and stop while it is still fun.