📖 Nursery · Reading & talking · Ages 3–4 · about 4 weeks Dates: to

First Sounds

Goal: Hear the first sound in a word and learn the sounds of s, a, t, p, i and n.

For parents: Use the letter's sound, not its name: 'sss' not 'ess', 'p' (a short puff) not 'pee'. These six letters come first because they make the most words.

Do together

  1. I spy with my little ear

    You need: Nothing

    'I spy with my little ear something that starts with sss…' (sock, spoon, sofa). Hold the first sound long so they can hear it.

  2. Sound bag

    You need: A bag, objects that start with s, p or t (spoon, sock, pen, pot, toy, towel)

    Take out one object and say its name clearly. Listen for the first sound: s in spoon, p in pen, t in towel. You can stretch s ('ssspoon'), but keep p and t short, without adding an extra 'uh'. Make a group for each of the three sounds.

  3. Two sound pictures

    You need: Paper and a crayon

    Draw a sun and a pot. Say each word and emphasise its first sound without adding an extra vowel. Ask your child to point to the picture that starts with s or p. They can choose the word for you to draw next. No flames or bought cards are needed.

Talk about it

  • What sound does your name start with?
  • Does 'sun' start with sss or mmm?
  • Can you find something in the kitchen that starts with p?

Words to use

  • sound
  • first
  • starts with
  • listen

Play (optional)

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wasilearn.com/learn/nursery/first-sounds · free home learning, ages 2–7