Learning to read is one of the most exciting milestones in the early years of school. In the Early Years, children are building the foundational skills that will support their reading, spelling and writing for years to come. A key part of this learning is phonics.

At Glasshouse Christian College, we use the InitiaLit program to support early reading instruction through a synthetic phonics approach. This means children are explicitly taught the relationship between letters and sounds, and how to blend those sounds together to read words. For example, children learn the sounds /s/ /a/ /t/ and then practise blending them to read the word sat. This structured and systematic approach is strongly supported by research and helps children develop confidence as they learn to read independently.

While phonics learning happens every day at school, families play an important role too. Short, enjoyable and consistent practise at home can make a meaningful difference. When phonics activities are playful and pressure free, children are more likely to stay engaged and positive about learning. Below are three simple games families can play with children in the Early Years to support phonics learning at home.

1. Sound Hunt Around the House

This game supports children in identifying sounds at the beginning of words, an important phonics skill.

Choose a focus sound that your child is currently learning at school, such as /m/, /s/ or /a/. Invite your child to go on a “sound hunt” around the house and find objects that start with that sound. For example, for /m/ they might find a mug, mat or mirror.

As each item is found, encourage your child to say the sound clearly rather than the letter name. You might ask, “What sound does this word start with?” Keep the activity short and celebrate your child’s efforts. This helps build strong sound awareness in a fun and meaningful way.

2. Robot Talk Blending Game

Blending sounds together is essential for reading, and this game makes practise engaging and light-hearted.

Pretend to be a robot who can only talk in sounds. Say a simple word by breaking it into individual sounds, such as /c/ /a/ /t/. Ask your child to “fix” the robot word by blending the sounds together and saying the whole word.

Once your child feels confident, swap roles and let them be the robot while you blend the word. You can use words from your child’s InitiaLit decodable readers or everyday words such as sun, map or sit. Keep sessions brief and finish on a positive note.

3. Build and Read with Magnetic Letters

This game supports both early reading and spelling skills.

Using magnetic letters or letter cards, select three sounds your child already knows and help them build a simple word, such as sat or pin. Say each sound aloud as the letters are placed together, then encourage your child to blend the sounds to read the word.

You can extend this activity by changing one sound at a time to make a new word, for example, changing sat to sit. This helps children understand how sounds work together and builds flexibility in their reading.

Every child progresses through phonics at their own pace. Celebrate small successes, keep practise short, and focus on encouragement rather than accuracy. Reading together, talking about sounds, and showing interest in your child’s learning all help build a strong foundation for reading at home.

By working together at school and at home, we can give children a confident and positive start to their reading journey at Glasshouse Christian College.

Sarah Jennings, Primary Curriculum Coordinator