When a child is learning to read, repetition is key. All too often, we underestimate the amount of time it takes for children to master phonics skills. According to early literacy expert Wiley Blevins, after a new skill is introduced, it should be purposefully reviewed for 4-6 weeks.
Mastering phonics skills takes a lot of practice, but that doesn’t mean it has to be boring! In fact, it can be fun, meaningful, and incredibly effective when you weave review and repetition into play.
That’s why we created two FREE phonics games for you to play at home. They require very little prep and are actually fun for kids. They’re designed to give your child the extra review and practice they need, while keeping them engaged and asking for more.
🎯 Phonics Game #1: 5-in-a-Row
If your child loves games like Bingo, they’ll love 5-in-a-Row.
Here’s how it works: Your child will draw a picture card (like a cat), then find and cover the word on their board that matches the picture. If your child is still learning letter sounds, they will draw a picture card and say the beginning sound (like /d/ for dog), and then use a token to cover the letter on their board that matches that sound.
The goal? Get 5 squares in a row covered!
Why it works:
This game builds word recognition and reinforces decoding skills by helping your child make direct connections between sounds and spellings. And because it feels like a game, it allows children to take safe risks and persist without frustration.
🎲 Phonics Game #2: Roll and Read
All you need for this game is a die and one crayon!
Here’s how it works: Your child rolls a die, then reads a sentence from that number’s column on the page. Once they’ve read the sentence aloud, they color it in. Children who are working on letter sounds will read the letter in the column. Repeat until the page is complete!
Why it works:
This game gives kids engaging sentence-level practice, supporting both decoding and fluency. It’s perfect for when your child is ready to move from single-word reading into reading texts.
📚 Free Phonics Games for Every Reading Level
Both of our free phonics games are available in all five of our Sure Start Reading levels, so you can feel confident that your child is practicing the right skills at the right time. Whether they’re just learning letter sounds or ready to tackle blends and digraphs, there’s a version that fits.
So let’s find the right level phonics game for your child…
Take our quick phonics quiz to find out exactly which level is the best fit for your child.
Once you complete the quiz, we’ll send the right set of phonics games straight to your inbox, so you can start playing (and learning!) right away!
At Sure Start Reading, we’re excited to support you and your child in your reading journey! We hope these free phonics games help make learning to read a more joyful experience for both of you! 💛