Phonics and Activities to Support Learning at Home

Phonics and Activities to Support Learning at Home

Simple, playful ways to help your child build confidence with sounds, letters and early reading skills.

Learning to read starts long before books and sentences - it begins with sounds, conversations, and curiosity. At Step Start, we gently introduce children to phonics in a way that feels fun and natural. And with a few simple ideas, you can continue supporting that learning at home, too.

What is phonics, anyway?
Phonics is about helping children hear, recognise and link sounds (called “phonemes”) with the letters (or “graphemes”) that represent them. It’s the foundation of learning to read and spell. But it’s not about sitting still with flashcards - it’s about playful learning, listening closely, and making connections.

How we explore phonics at Step Start

  • Through songs, rhymes and storytelling
  • Playing with initial sounds in everyday words
  • Using visuals and movement to help children link sound to action
  • Encouraging listening games to build auditory skills

Activities you can try at home:

Sound of the Day
Pick a letter sound each day (like “S”) and go on a hunt around the house for things that start with that sound - “sock”, “spoon”, “sofa”.

Rhyme Time
Share nursery rhymes, silly songs or make up your own. Rhyme helps children tune in to patterns and sounds.

Reading Together
Choose picture books with repetition and rhythm. Point to words as you read. Let your child “read” the bits they remember!

Listening Walks
Head out and listen carefully - can they hear birds? Cars? A dog? Talk about the sounds and where they might be coming from. 

Sound & Letter Crafts
Make a collage shaped like a letter using items starting with that sound - a “B” full of buttons, beads and bears!

Keep it light, keep it playful
The goal isn’t to rush or ‘teach’ reading - it’s to build confidence, spark interest and help your child feel excited about words and sounds. At Step Start, we believe that early learning is most powerful when it’s rooted in joy and curiosity, and you’re a key part of that journey!