Phonics and handwriting are closely intertwined. Because phonics is how children learn to read and write, handwriting is an inevitable skill that learners must develop in order to build a strong literacy foundation. 

Let’s take a look at the inseparable relationship between phonics and handwriting for kids. We’ll provide a list of fun and engaging activities that encourage proper handwriting skills while reinforcing phonics concepts!

The Connection Between Phonics and Handwriting

Phonics instruction teaches children the relationship between sounds (phonemes) and letters (graphemes) in written language. Handwriting, on the other hand (no pun intended), focuses on the physical act of forming letters and words on paper to communicate ideas. These two skills are technically distinct but they surely complement—and reinforce—each other in several ways.

• Letter-sound correspondence: As children learn to associate sounds with letters through phonics, they simultaneously practice writing those letters, strengthening the connection between sound and symbol.
• Muscle memory: The act of writing alphabetical letters helps children internalize the shapes and forms, making it easier to recognize them when reading.
• Phonemic awareness: Handwriting practice can reinforce phonemic awareness skills, which is the ability to identify and manipulate speech sounds. Phonemic awareness is required for segmenting words into individual sounds when children begin to spell.
• Spelling: As children learn to encode (spell) words using their phonics knowledge, they also practice writing those words, improving both skills simultaneously.
• Reading fluency: Improved handwriting skills can lead to stronger letter recognition skills, contributing to reading fluency and comprehension.

Studies have also found that children who begin learning handwriting in preschool and kindergarten often experience better reading and writing outcomes as they progress academically. 

Fun Phonics Handwriting Activities to Encourage Learning 

Now that we see the relationship between phonics and handwriting instruction, let’s look at some engaging activities that can make learning both skills fun and effective.

1. Sensory Letter Formation

Materials: Shaving cream, sand, or finger paint.

How to play: Spread the sensory material on a flat surface, whether it be a large piece of paper on a table or a washable board. Introduce a letter or letter sound and have your child write the letter in the material while saying the sound aloud. This multi-sensory approach reinforces the connection between sound and symbol while practicing proper letter formation.

2. Phonics Hopscotch

Materials: Chalk and outdoor space.

How to play: Draw a hopscotch grid on the pavement, writing a different letter in each square. Call out a word and have children hop on the letters that spell the word, saying each sound as they land. This activity combines physical movement with spelling and letter recognition.

3. Letter Label Hunt

Materials: Sticky notes and markers.

How to play: Write various letters on sticky notes and place them around the room. Call out a letter sound and instruct children to go find and retrieve the corresponding letter. Do this until the sequence of letter sounds spells out a word (for example, calling out the sounds /c/ /a/ /t/ /s/ to spell the word ‘cats’). When your child collects all the sticky notes back, they must arrange the whole word. When they get it correct, have them write (or trace) the whole word on a piece of paper. This encourages listening, phonics, and handwriting skills.

4. Phonics Air Writing

Materials: None.

How to play: Call out a letter sound and have children “write” the shape of the corresponding letter in the air using their fingers. Encourage them to make large, exaggerated movements and say the sound as they write. This activity helps children visualize letter formation while reinforcing sound-symbol relationships and can be done anywhere!

5. Word Building With Play Dough

Materials: Playdough or clay.

How to play: Give your child a handful of play dough and call out a simple word. Have them form the letters of the word using the playdough, saying each sound as they create the letter. This tactile activity reinforces letter formation and phonemic awareness.

6. Phonics Painting

Materials: Paintbrushes, water, chalkboard, or sidewalk.

How to play: Have children paint or draw letters on a chalkboard or sidewalk using water and paintbrushes. Call out individual letters and have your child paint them while saying the sounds aloud. This activity combines fine motor skills with phonics practice, two skills involved in handwriting.

7. Letter Formation Obstacle Course

Materials: Various household items (e.g., rope, hula hoops, cushions, and toys).

How to play: Create a DIY obstacle course using household items, with each station representing a different letter. As children navigate the course, they must try to form the letter with their body at each station while saying its sound. This full-body activity reinforces letter shapes and sounds in a fun, silly, and physical way.

8. Phonics Scavenger Hunt

Materials: Small objects from around the house or classroom.

How to play: Hide objects around the room that begin with different letter sounds (/b/ for ‘ball,’ /g/ for ‘gum,’ etc.). Give your child a list of letter sounds to find and then have them search for objects that begin with each sound. Have them write down the name of each object they discover, focusing on proper letter formation. This activity combines phonics, handwriting, and problem-solving skills.

9. Sound Sorting

Materials: Magazine cutouts or printed pictures and large paper.

How to play: Give your child a variety of pictures and have them sort them based on their initial sounds. As they sort, have them write the corresponding letter sounds next to each picture, focusing on proper letter formation. For example, they’d write ‘p’ for perfume, ‘ch’ for chips, and ‘v’ for vegetables. This activity reinforces both phonemic awareness and handwriting skills with a fun visual focus.

10. Phonics Tic-Tac-Toe

Materials: Paper and writing utensils. 

How to play: Create a tic-tac-toe grid and fill each square with a different alphabetical letter. Players take turns saying a word that begins with one of the letters and writing it in the corresponding square. The first player to get three in a row wins. This game combines strategy with phonics and handwriting practice.

Making Phonics and Handwriting Instruction Effective

To make the most out of combining phonics and handwriting practice, keep these tips in mind.

1. Start with proper pencil grip: Teach children the correct way to hold a pencil using a tripod grip to ensure comfort and control during writing activities.
2. Use a systematic approach: Introduce letters and sounds in a logical sequence, building on previously learned skills.
3. Initiate lots of practice: Offer frequent, short practice sessions rather than long, infrequent ones.
4. Try multi-sensory activities: Kids learn best when engaged. Incorporating multiple senses (sight, sound, and touch) can capture attention and interest while reinforcing learning.
5. Make it fun: Use entertaining games, songs, and activities to keep your child engaged and motivated.
6. Provide immediate feedback: Gently correct letter formation, handwriting, and letter sound mistakes as your child practices. This prevents bad habits from forming.
7. Celebrate progress: Acknowledge and praise your child’s improvements, no matter how small. This builds confidence and enthusiasm for learning.

By combining phonics and handwriting instruction through fun, engaging activities, you can help children develop strong foundational literacy skills that serve them for life.

Are you looking for more ways to make phonics and handwriting instruction effective for kids? Follow Phonics.org for expert reviews of phonics programs, activity ideas, and resources to support your child’s literacy journey. Together, we can help children become confident readers and writers, setting them up for lifelong success!