📖 Reading & talking · Ages 4–5 · about 4 weeks

Blending Sounds into Words

Goal: Blend three sounds together to read short words like sat, pin, map and dad.

For parents: Blending is the moment reading clicks. Say the sounds quickly and closely together — 'm-a-p' said slowly with gaps is much harder to blend than 'mmaap'.

Do together

  1. Robot talk

    You need: Nothing

    Talk like a robot: 'Get your h-a-t.' 'Sit on the m-a-t.' Your child works out the word. Then they be the robot.

  2. Sound buttons

    You need: Paper, a pencil

    Write a word like 'sat' and put a dot under each letter. Your child touches each dot and says the sound, then sweeps a finger under the word and says it fast.

  3. Word slider

    You need: Card strips

    Write _at on a card and slide letters in front: sat, pat, mat. How many real words can you make? Which ones are silly?

Talk about it

  • What word do these sounds make: p-i-n?
  • What sounds can you hear in 'sun'?
  • Is 'tap' a real word? Is 'dap'?

Words to use

  • blend
  • sound out
  • word
  • read

Play

  • Word Builder
    Syllables & word building
  • Sound Hunt
    Phonics
  • Sound Start
    First sounds
Play these games free

Every game is free for every family until 20 November 2026.

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