Play games that involve identifying and manipulating sounds in words.  For example:  I Spy: “I spy with my little eye something that starts with /b/.”

Ask your child to change the first sound in “cat” to /m/ to make “mat”.

Clap out the syllables in words.  For example, “ba-na-na” has three claps.

Identify words that start or end with the same sound.  For example, “What sound does “dog” start with? Can you find something else that starts with /d/?”

Practice breaking words into individual sounds and then blending them back together.  For example, “What sounds do you hear in the word “cat”? /c/ /a/ /t/.  Now let’s bled them together to say “cat”.

Go on a “sound hunt” around the house or neighborhood to find objects that start with a particular sound.

Teach the sounds that each letter.  Then move on to letter combinations. Start with simple, common sounds and gradually introduce more complex sounds and combinations.

Help your child practice blending individual sounds to form words. For example, show them how to put the sounds /c/, /a/, and /t/ together to read "cat."

Practice breaking down words into their individual sounds (segmenting) and then blending them back together. For example, "Let's break down the word 'dog': /d/ /o/ /g/. Now let's blend it: 'dog'."

Learning to sound out words takes time and practice. Encourage your child and celebrate their successes, no matter how small.

Keep activities playful and engaging to maintain your child's interest and motivation. Use games, songs, and hands-on activities to make learning enjoyable.

Read with your child every day. Choose books that are appropriate for their reading level and gradually increase the difficulty as their skills improve.

Demonstrate how to sound out words when you read together. Show them how you approach new words and think aloud about the sounds you hear.

Surround your child with print, including books, labels, signs, and posters. This helps reinforce the connection between written letters and sounds.

Consistency is key. Regular practice, even for a few minutes a day, can make a significant difference in developing phonics skills.