For Parents

Help your child strengthen their literacy skills at any stage of development.

Your family plays a big role in helping your child learn to read and write. With the right phonics activities at home, you can support your child’s literacy development and academic success. The more you understand how and why phonics instruction works, the better you can facilitate effective and meaningful learning experiences with your family. 

To help your child practice phonics at home, read our insights for parents below! You can also browse our phonics program reviews for more.

Phonics Education for Families

sight words vs high frequency words

Sight Words vs. High-Frequency Words

During phonics instruction, children learn to sound out or “decode” words. With enough practice,...

letters and the brain noting how the brain learns to read

How the Brain Learns to Read

Reading is an advanced skill and a relatively new phenomenon among humans. While literacy...

tips for teaching phonics at home

10 Tips for Parents Teaching Phonics at Home

Teaching phonics to kids is no easy feat. Reading and writing are complex skills...

Phonics Intervention for Struggling Students

Phonics is a must-have foundation for reading instruction—especially for children just learning to read....

Common Phonics Mistakes to Avoid When Teaching

Ahhh, phonics instruction. It’s such a special experience in a child’s education! Helping kids...

Making Phonics Stick: Help Kids Learn Essential Literacy Skills 

Sometimes, it seems like no matter how much you practice with your child or...

fun phonics games for kids

Fun Phonics Games for Kids: Activities to Try at Home 

Kids need to master basic phonics skills before they can become proficient readers. While...

learn to reach decoding in reading for kids

Methods of Effective Decoding in Reading

When children are learning to read, they must be taught how to “sound out”...

what is phonics?

What is Phonics? An Introduction for Parents and Educators

Anyone who can read and write in an alphabetical language has mastered an important...

The Connection Between Phonics and Spelling: Building Both Skills Together

The Connection Between Phonics and Spelling: Building Both Skills Together

Learning to read and write are two sides of the same coin. While many parents and teachers might focus on phonics and spelling as separate skills, teaching them together can…

What Phonics Rules Should Children Know (By Age)?

What Phonics Rules Should Children Know (By Age)?

Understanding phonics milestones by age helps parents and educators effectively support children’s literacy development. While every child develops at their own pace, there are general estimates about when and how…

How to Become a Phonics Tutor

How to Become a Phonics Tutor

Are you passionate about helping children learn to read? Whether you’re a parent who has successfully guided your children through their literacy journey or an educator looking to expand your…

Silent Letters and Tricky Words

Silent Letters and Tricky Words

Picture this: Your young reader is confidently sounding out words when they encounter “knife” for the first time. They try their best: “k-n-if-ee?” The confusion on their face is familiar…

The Connection Between Movement and Phonics Learning

The Connection Between Movement and Phonics Learning

When young children learn letter sounds through movement – jumping as they say /j/, reaching high for /t/, or bending low for /d/ – they’re not just having fun. They’re…

Bionic Reading: Y/N?

Bionic Reading: Y/N?

Tech + nature – sounds like the future, right?  In recent years, a new reading method has captured attention across social media and educational technology platforms. Called “bionic reading,” this…

Phonics and the Literacy Crisis: America’s Reading Challenge

Phonics and the Literacy Crisis: America’s Reading Challenge

The statistics are sobering: 66% of American fourth graders are failing to meet proficiency levels in reading, with even more alarming rates among minority students. For Black fourth graders, this…

How Adult Literacy Shapes Children’s Learning

How Adult Literacy Shapes Children’s Learning

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, 43 million adults in the U.S. read at or below a third-grade level. Low literacy in adults is linked to various social…

Digraphs and Trigraphs: A Parent’s Guide

Digraphs and Trigraphs: A Parent’s Guide

Is your child starting to read words with letter combinations like ‘sh’ or ‘ch’? Congratulations—you’re entering the exciting world of digraphs and trigraphs! While these terms might sound technical, they’re…

How to Find a Phonics Tutor: Tips for Parents

How to Find a Phonics Tutor: Tips for Parents

Phonics is a major aspect of your child’s early education. It equips them with the skills they need to read, write, and learn. Foundational skills like decoding, vocabulary, and reading…