How to play: Pick a flashcard for example C, and use it as a prompt to create a short story. “This is C. C has a cat. One day, C and the cat go on an adventure...” Encourage your child to come up with the next part of the story, incorporating objects or ideas that begin with that letter. What is the letters favourite thing to do/eat/say. You can repeat the activity with each of the different letters. Try to make it fun and easy to remember, so that some of the descriptions can become prompts for recalling the sounds.

How to play: Use the prompt sheet provided to show your children an action for each of the sounds. This becomes a fun way for your children to recall the sounds accurately. You could even try coming up with some of the your own actions.

How to play: Spread the flashcards around the room or hide them in various places. Ask your child to find specific letters. For example, say, “Find the letter” (try using the letter sound instead of the letter name). Once they find it, they can show it to you or match it with an object that starts with that letter (e.g. “B” for ball).

How to play: Lay out a few flashcards (maybe S,A,T,P,I,N to start). Say a letter sound (e.g. “ssss” for “S”) and ask your child to point to or pick up the corresponding flashcard. As they get more confident, you can increase the difficulty by using more letters or asking them to think of words that start with that letter sound.

How to play: Give your child a flashcard (e.g. “D”) and ask them to find an object around the house that starts with that letter (like a doll or a dog toy for “D”). As they find objects, encourage them to say the word out loud and compare it with the flashcard.

How to play: Lay out the flashcards in alphabetical order like a train. As your child places the cards, sing the alphabet song together. To extend the activity for older kids, mix up the letters and ask them to “build” the train by putting the letters in order. You can also quiz them on letters that come before or after a specific card.

How to play: Choose 6-10 pairs of flashcards and CVC word cards. Lay the flashcards face down and take turns flipping over two at a time, trying to find matching letter and CVC card. When your child finds a match, they can shout MATCH.

How to play: Lay flashcards on the floor in a hopscotch-like pattern. Call out a letter, and have your child hop to that letter. For older kids, call out words (e.g., “Hop to the letter that starts the word apple”). You can also add physical challenges like hopping on one foot or skipping to make it more active.

How to play: Place flashcards at one end of the room and a basket or container at the other. Call out a letter, and have your child run to pick it up and place it in the basket. For added fun, ask them to think of a word that starts with that letter as they run. For older kids, add a time limit or mix in uppercase and lowercase cards for a greater challenge.

How to play: Place several flashcards in front of your child, and let them study the cards. After a few seconds, cover their eyes and remove one card. Then ask them which letter is missing. For more advanced kids, you can remove multiple cards and increase the difficulty.

How to play: Have your child pick a flashcard (e.g. “F”), and then create artwork that represents the letter. They could draw a fish for “F,” or you can cut out shapes and glue them to form the letter. Older kids might enjoy using the card to practice writing the letter in different colours or styles.

How to play: Pick a flashcard and make it the “Letter of the Day.” Throughout the day, ask your child to find things that start with that letter (e.g. if the letter is “S” they might find a spoon or socks). You can also focus on writing or crafting activities that involve that letter (e.g. drawing the letter, colouring, or decorating it with stickers).

How to play: Lay several flashcards on the floor or table. Give your child a fly swatter (or simply let them use their hand/ spatula), and call out a letter. They need to quickly “swat” the correct flashcard. You can increase the difficulty by calling out letter sounds or words that start with the letter.

How to play: Using the flashcards, prompt your child to write the letters on the windows using erasable pens/ paint sticks. Provide your child with a water spray bottle and call out one of the sounds. Prompt your child to spray the letter and wash it off the window.

How to play: Place 3 cards in front your child and sit behind your child. Draw one of the 3 sounds on their back and see if they can guess which sound you drew. If they find this a challenge try to add verbal cues too e.g. For the letter s – you might say slither down the sss.