Phonics Games for Preschoolers

Come preschool, and it’s a whole new phase of a child’s life. Their troubles are no longer confined to their favorite toy, meal, or song. The realities of learning soon come to the fore, as letters, sounds, and numbers become a part of everyday activities.

If you believe that preschoolers only need to have a good time, we second you fully! That’s why we have made every aspect of learning fun. Making learning engaging and enjoyable are the best ways to make it effective.

Phonic Fun for Preschoolers

Learning phonics may be easy, complex, or time-consuming, but it should never be boring. We bring you a host of games and fun learning techniques to make phonics your child’s best buddy:

• Phonic burst: We don’t think there is a child who doesn’t like water play. This task is just that! Fill up a basket of water balloons and keep them handy. Now write down some letters on the wall. You can also stick cards. Call out a letter sound, get your child to pick a balloon, and aim at the correct letter. If the letter is right, they get to throw the balloon. If it’s wrong, the balloon goes back into the basket. This challenge is sure to get them practicing hard.
• Phonic strings: This takes a little prep, but it’s totally worth it. And very recyclable too! Paint a bowl of macaroni in bright colors. Now write down letters on each of them. Give your child a string, and tell them that we are going to spell with sounds. Pick small words. Call out – ‘bed’. Now spell each letter out phonetically. The child must pick the letter and put it through a string. You’ve got sound and letter practice and motor skill development all evolving together. To change it around a little, string some macaroni beforehand, and get your child to remove each one while calling out the sound.
• Phonic hop: Fancy a game of hopscotch? In this task, you need to write the letters down on the ground in random order. You and the child take turns. Call out a sound, and the child must hop till they reach the letter and stand on it. Then they do the same. Turn the game around and ask the child to close their eyes and walk three steps in any direction. At the end of the three steps, they look at the letter beneath their feet and call out its sound. Now you try it!
• Phonic gifts: This is a highly rewarding game, if we may say so ourselves! In this game, you need to tell the child that they will be getting you a gift. So, call out a letter sound. The child must run and bring back one thing from the house or class that starts with the letter.

How to Teach Phonics to Preschoolers

Fun and games aside, it takes a lot to teach a preschooler phonics. For one, you need to have a solid plan in place. These tips might help you get there:

• Start with the common phonic sounds. Children learn sounds like ‘b’, ‘m’, ‘s’, ‘p’ a lot faster than the rest. That’s because these are the sounds they hear more often.
• Work on letter sound and visual presentation together. Some children learn better through visual connections. So help them see the letter in front of them while they hear the sound. Make it happen each time. For kinesthetic learners, you may want to encourage them to touch and feel the letter too.
• Take only one sound at a time. Avoid mixing them up or clubbing them. Children at this stage are still too young to get it all or get it right. The idea is for them to be exposed to as much as possible to build familiarity.

Golden Rules of Helping Preschoolers

Preschoolers are little bundles of fun who are just out to enjoy themselves. Allow them the liberty of giggling and laughing through the learning journey. It will work well when you:

• Avoid any pressure of accuracy or speed. They are bound to get confused and distracted. Continue the process of fun and allow them to be themselves.
• Do not compare. Some children are naturally inclined to learn sounds faster. Other kids may be better at math. Do not worry about grade averages, and let your child set the pace.
• Motivate them constantly. Children can get very intimidated and upset when they struggle or underperform. Keep reminding them about how well they are trying. And don’t forget to reward every win with an extra broad smile or hug.

SplashLearn brings alive the spirit of preschoolers with engaging online educational games and resources that elevate phonics from a skill to a thrill!