5 Simple Blending Activities to Use After Jolly Phonics
- Kim Woodford
- 6 days ago
- 2 min read
After children learn letter sounds through Jolly Phonics, the next big step is blending—putting those sounds together to read words. Blending is where phonics truly comes alive and where confidence begins to grow.
The good news? Blending doesn’t need to be complicated. With a few simple, hands-on activities, children can smoothly move from knowing sounds to reading words.
Below are five easy blending activities that work beautifully at home or in the classroom.
🌟 1. Stretch & Blend
What it is:
Children say each sound slowly, then blend them together.
How to do it:
Say a word like c–a–t
Stretch your arms wide for each sound
Pull arms together as you say the whole word: cat
Why it works:
Physical movement helps children feel how sounds come together.
Teacher Talk:
“This is great for whole-group phonics time or brain breaks.”
Parent Tip:
Use this while driving or cooking—no materials needed!
🧩 2. Tap and Say
What it is:
Children tap one finger for each sound, then blend.
How to do it:
Tap the table or fingers for each sound: d / o / g
Say the word smoothly: dog
A good resource for practicing this activity is with elkonin boxes.
Why it works:
Tapping builds phonemic awareness and sound segmentation.
Teacher Talk:
“Perfect for small groups and intervention.”
Parent Tip:
Let kids tap on their arm, knee, or the floor.
✏️ 3. Build the Word
What it is:
Children physically build words using letters.
Materials:
How to do it:
Build s – a – t
Point to each letter while saying the sound
Slide a finger under the word and blend
Why it works:
Hands-on building strengthens sound-symbol connection.
Teacher Talk:
“Great for literacy centers.”
Parent Tip:
Use Scrabble tiles or write letters on sticky notes.
🐸 4. Jump and Blend
What it is:
A gross-motor blending game.
How to do it:
Place three letters on the floor
Child jumps on each letter saying the sound
Final jump blends the word
Why it works:
Movement keeps reluctant readers engaged.
Teacher Talk:
“Perfect for kinesthetic learners.”
Parent Tip:
Sidewalk chalk works great outside!
📦 5. Real Object Blending
What it is:
Using real-life objects to blend words.
Examples:
cup
hat
pen
map
sock
How to do it:
Hold up the object
Say each sound slowly
Blend together and say the word
Why it works:
Real objects make phonics meaningful and memorable.
Teacher Talk:
“This is excellent for ELL learners.”
Parent Tip:
Use objects around your home—no prep required.
🌱 Final Thoughts
Blending is the bridge between phonics and reading. When children practice blending in fun, low-pressure ways, they gain confidence and begin to see themselves as readers.
Remember:
Short practice is better than long sessions
Make it playful
Celebrate effort, not perfection
Blending takes time—and that’s okay.
✨
Coming Next on Wild World of Learning
How to Know If Your Child Is Ready to Start Reading After Phonics
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