10 Phonics Activities for Preschoolers

Mackenzie Lee

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Phonics is an important foundation for early reading and writing skills. By teaching phonics to preschoolers, we can help them develop the skills they need to become successful readers and writers.

There are many different phonics activities and games that can be used to teach phonics to preschoolers.

Here are nine ideas to get you started:

Play a game of "I Spy" using words that start with the same letter sound. For example, "I spy something that starts with the /s/ sound."

Use magnetic letters to spell out simple words and have the child say the word and identify the sounds of each letter.

Image Source

Use a set of flashcards with pictures of objects that start with different letter sounds. Have the child say the name of the object and the corresponding letter sound.

Play a game of "Memory" using a set of cards with pictures of objects that start with different letter sounds. Have the child match the picture to the corresponding letter sound.

Play a game of "Go Fish" using a deck of cards with pictures of objects that start with different letter sounds. Have the child ask for a card with a specific letter sound and try to make a match.

Image Source

Use a set of picture cards with simple CVC words (words with consonant-vowel-consonant sounds) and have the child say the word and identify the sounds of each letter.

Use a set of picture cards with simple CVC words and have the child build the words by manipulating letter tiles or magnetic letters.

Use a set of picture cards with simple sight words and have the child say the word and identify the sounds of each letter.

Image Source

Play a game of "Simon Says" using letter sounds and simple CVC words. For example, "Simon says touch your nose if the word starts with the /m/ sound."


Sound sorting — Children can sort objects or pictures by the initial sound, such as grouping items that start with the "b" sound.

By using these fun and engaging activities, you can help your preschooler develop important phonics skills and lay the foundation for future success in reading and writing

Phonics is an important foundation for early reading and writing skills. By teaching phonics to preschoolers, we can help them develop the skills they need to become successful readers and writers.

There are many different phonics activities and games that can be used to teach phonics to preschoolers.

Here are nine ideas to get you started:

Play a game of "I Spy" using words that start with the same letter sound. For example, "I spy something that starts with the /s/ sound."

Use magnetic letters to spell out simple words and have the child say the word and identify the sounds of each letter.

Image Source

Use a set of flashcards with pictures of objects that start with different letter sounds. Have the child say the name of the object and the corresponding letter sound.

Play a game of "Memory" using a set of cards with pictures of objects that start with different letter sounds. Have the child match the picture to the corresponding letter sound.

Play a game of "Go Fish" using a deck of cards with pictures of objects that start with different letter sounds. Have the child ask for a card with a specific letter sound and try to make a match.

Image Source

Use a set of picture cards with simple CVC words (words with consonant-vowel-consonant sounds) and have the child say the word and identify the sounds of each letter.

Use a set of picture cards with simple CVC words and have the child build the words by manipulating letter tiles or magnetic letters.

Use a set of picture cards with simple sight words and have the child say the word and identify the sounds of each letter.

Image Source

Play a game of "Simon Says" using letter sounds and simple CVC words. For example, "Simon says touch your nose if the word starts with the /m/ sound."


Sound sorting — Children can sort objects or pictures by the initial sound, such as grouping items that start with the "b" sound.

By using these fun and engaging activities, you can help your preschooler develop important phonics skills and lay the foundation for future success in reading and writing

Phonics is an important foundation for early reading and writing skills. By teaching phonics to preschoolers, we can help them develop the skills they need to become successful readers and writers.

There are many different phonics activities and games that can be used to teach phonics to preschoolers.

Here are nine ideas to get you started:

Play a game of "I Spy" using words that start with the same letter sound. For example, "I spy something that starts with the /s/ sound."

Use magnetic letters to spell out simple words and have the child say the word and identify the sounds of each letter.

Image Source

Use a set of flashcards with pictures of objects that start with different letter sounds. Have the child say the name of the object and the corresponding letter sound.

Play a game of "Memory" using a set of cards with pictures of objects that start with different letter sounds. Have the child match the picture to the corresponding letter sound.

Play a game of "Go Fish" using a deck of cards with pictures of objects that start with different letter sounds. Have the child ask for a card with a specific letter sound and try to make a match.

Image Source

Use a set of picture cards with simple CVC words (words with consonant-vowel-consonant sounds) and have the child say the word and identify the sounds of each letter.

Use a set of picture cards with simple CVC words and have the child build the words by manipulating letter tiles or magnetic letters.

Use a set of picture cards with simple sight words and have the child say the word and identify the sounds of each letter.

Image Source

Play a game of "Simon Says" using letter sounds and simple CVC words. For example, "Simon says touch your nose if the word starts with the /m/ sound."


Sound sorting — Children can sort objects or pictures by the initial sound, such as grouping items that start with the "b" sound.

By using these fun and engaging activities, you can help your preschooler develop important phonics skills and lay the foundation for future success in reading and writing

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10 Phonics Activities for Preschoolers

Published Jan 11, 2023

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Mackenzie Lee
Child Development