The best pre-phonics activities include singing!
Singing is one of the very best pre-phonics activities to develop essential pre-reading skills because all perfectly prepared preschoolers need to be able to:
- Hear sounds
- Say sounds
- Remember sounds
This is how I began the ‘Importance of preschool phonics songs’ parents meeting at Little Cherubs Preschool.
Let's Sing!
Like most of us, the parents at Little Cherubs had never considered the purpose of singing as part of reading readiness.
Singing is part of childhood!
They remembered joining in with singing when they were young, but had had never appreciated how this benefitted learning. |
This is the story of what the parents at Little Cherubs Preschool learnt about singing, to prepare their children for reading spectacularly well.
Singing is an essential element of phonics for 3 year olds
Most children learn to read following a system called phonics.
This is a system that breaks words up into separate spoken sounds matched to letters.
To experience success with Phonics, preschoolers need well-developed auditory skills to:
- Hear the difference between these spoken sounds (auditory discrimination)
- Remember the differences between spoken sounds in order (auditory memory)
Singing is the perfect phonics for 3 year olds, providing heaps of auditory discrimination and memory practise in a fun and engaging way.
Auditory Discrimination
Toddlers and preschoolers begin by discriminating between words and tunes when they sing.
They imitate odd sounds, tunes or word patterns from well-known songs, becoming increasingly independent, joining in more over time.
As preschoolers develop, the number of words and complexity of tunes increases.
We often hear them singing to themselves as they play, in the same way that songs get into our heads as adults. The parents at Little Cherubs could identify! |
Phonics for preschoolers develops auditory memory
Auditory memory can be a big stumbling block for many children entering school. They’re tasked with holding and ordering abstract letter sounds in their heads, right from the start.
To prepare these auditory memory muscles, phonics for preschoolers needs to practise this skill in a meaningful way.
Singing helps preschoolers to do this without them even knowing it.
Two channelled memory
Learning to sing a new song exercises two channels of memory at the same time.
- Remembering the song words in order
- Remembering and repeating the tune.
It’s such a lot to remember.
This seemingly simple process provides a workout for different parts of the brain simultaneously.
It’s brilliant for overall brain development because it creates stronger links between experiences (neural pathways).
Children know and remember more at school when they’ve learnt songs from memory at 2, 3 and 4 years old.
Singing for developing speech sounds
Lots of parents at Little Cherubs were keen to talk about the difficulties their children were having developing speech sounds.
If learning to read using phonics relies so heavily on the correspondence between speech sounds and letters, they were worried that unclear speech would prove problematic.
A heart-warming true story about singing in preschool
I shared the true story of an amazing 3-year-old called Alfie, who’s communication and prereading skills were vastly improved by singing.
How to teach phonics to preschoolers using songs
The families at Little Cherubs were convinced about the virtues of singing as part of how to teach phonics to preschoolers.
I explained that phonics for preschoolers is not about alphabet songs, or songs that look more obviously as if they’re introducing letters.
All songs are not equal!
Preschool phonics song ideas include any song that children are learning from memory because, regardless of the song, they’ll be learning to:
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Teaching songs to 2,3- and 4-year-olds is best done in a simple progression.
Beginning with songs with fewer words and simpler tunes, becoming more complex and lengthier, step-by-step.
A simple song progression
Best songbooks for introducing preschool phonics activities
Using preschool songbooks is a great introduction to preschool phonics activities. These provide useful visual prompts that help children remember song words in sequence.
This activates memory in a way that’s different from the more passive visual stimulus of a video.
I explained to the parents that a big part of becoming a reader is feeling that it’s possible. Songbooks can play an important part in this process.
When preschoolers look through a songbook of a known song, they feel as if they’re really reading.
They get an endorphin buzz and feel proud, so they choose to do more of it.
Here are some of the best preschool phonics songbook ideas shared with the parents at Little Cherubs.
Families were thrilled to know how these super simple book ideas would be developing critical prephonic skills at home and preschool.
10 of the best songbooks
Fun preschool song ideas to try straight away!
Here are the 9 super successful preschool phonics song ideas shared with the families at Little Cherubs.
These were taken from the Super Sounds Prephonics Programme that the staff at Little Cherubs used every day with the children.
Everyone loved joining in with the songs and had great fun in playing the games together too.
Preschool phonics song | Pass the box
A super simple song where children match pictures or toys with everyday sounds. It’s perfect for practising turn taking and can be easily adapted to the interests of any group.
You will need:
- A box
- Sound making toys, pictures, or instruments.
- A speaker or device to play the tune
Preschool phonics song | Who is knocking at the door?
A great song and game for practising listening, with lots of fun listening out for different sound clues behind the door. The parents at Little Cherubs joined in with some very imaginative ideas!
You will need:
- A door or a barrier to hide behind
- A speaker or device to play the tune
Preschool phonics song | Listen to the shopping
This is a super simple song and game that 2 and 3-year-olds always enjoy. Start with obvious sounds from around the home, becoming more challenging and similar over time.
You will need
A shopping bag.
- Sound making objects such as crisps to crunch, cereal to shake, or a drink to fizz.
- A speaker or devise to play the tune.
Tune I’m a little teapot
Preschool phonics song | Choose the sound
Playing musical instruments always adds to the excitement at songtime. This preschool phonics song is a great starter to develop choice making and vocabulary for describing the names and sounds of different sound makers.
You will need
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How to play
Explain that the children are going to be musicians, taking turns to choose an instrument from those in the centre of the space.
Show the children the bag with the names inside. Read each of the names all together, using the photos as a support if necessary.
Explain that the children are going to pass the bag around the group as the children sing a song.
Encourage the children to join in with the singing as much as possible, clapping the beat as the bag is passed.
As the singing ends, the child holding the bag should look to find their name.
They should choose an instrument.
For more developed talkers, encourage them to say why a particular instrument has been chosen.
“I like the drum because it’s loud”, “I like the bells, they sound like Santa”.
Sing the song all together again, passing the bag and clapping as before.
The child with the instrument can play along as everyone sings.
Repeat the singing, selecting, naming, and playing of the musical instruments until all the children are playing their instruments, and there are no more names in the bag.
Preschool phonics song | Which Sound?
This super simple barrier game can be played with any instruments and sound makers and really challenges listening rather than looking. We played this with a loud squeaky dog’s ball, and a quiet jingly cat’s ball, but you can use almost any sound making objects, as long as they sound different.
You will need
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How to play Remind the children of the instrument sounds and names, saying these all together. Explain that the children will be guessing which instrument is being played by listening for the musical clues. Begin by introducing the song for the game. “I’ve got sounds 1 (play instrument 1) and 2 (play instrument 2)” Show the instruments as you play them. “Hideaway.” Hide both instruments behind the barrier. “Listen now, listen now.” “Which shall I play?” Play one of the instruments from behind the barrier. Can the children guess the instrument? Encourage children who struggle to name the instrument by pointing to the matching picture. Challenge children who guess which sound is being played to describe how they know. “The bells make a jingling sound”. Repeat several times then challenge more confident children to take the ‘teacher’ role, playing the instruments behind the barrier. |
Preschool phonics song | The Drummer’s in the Ring
The preschoolers at Little Cherubs loved to be picked as the drummer in this game. This preschool phonics song was an instant hit for introducing the differences between fast, slow, loud, or quiet.
Preschool phonics song | Waddle Like A Penguin
Can you waddle like a penguin or flap like a flamingo? This simple action song matches words, tunes and actions.It’s an easy peasy opportunity to develop memory and coordination, all at the same time! |
Preschool Phonics Song | Feel the Beat
This fast and fun song is an easy alternative to ‘Heads shoulders knees and toes’, or ‘If your Happy and you know it’, and you can add lots of your own actions too. A super way of teaching a steady beat, ready for learning about rhythm. |
You will need
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Preschool Phonics Song | Little Drummer’s Drumming
Developing a sense of rhythm is a critical prereading skill as it’s a first step towards learning about syllables. This rhythmic preschool phonics song and game introduces syllables by playing around with beats in names.
Free Songbook including phonics preschool activities
As the family information meeting sing along at Little Cherubs ended, the parents were super keen to keep singing.
I shared this tried and tested songbook with everyone, and the preschool leader was excited to add it to the preschool website too.
You can access all the song words, tunes and games to share with your families too. The instant QR codes and clickable links will save you hours, and you can get started straight away.
Nursery Phonics Planning
If your preschooler enjoyed singing these nursery prephonics songs and you want to continue the prephonics fun, Super Sounds is just what you need
It’s an evidence-based, tried and tested prephonics programme that is designed specifically for 2,3 and 4 year olds.
Perfect for using before any phonics programme, Super Sounds is uniquely written for a fun and engaging approach to teaching a progression of prephonic skills step by step.
Whether you want fresh ideas as an alternative to Phase 1 Phonics, or you’re new to phonics in nursery and don’t know where to start, Super Sounds is waiting for you!
More ideas for including singing in your phonics preschool activities
Super Sounds by The Learning Lady
Ready for Ready – Preschool Online Training Course
FREE Recommended Reading books for Preschool Phonics
FREE Prephonic Progression and Assessment for for 2,3 and 4 year olds
Inspiring preschool phonics activity eyfs | Why singing more is essential.
What comes before Phonics by Sally Neaum