Teaching your toddler letter sounds shouldn’t feel overwhelming… but for many parents, it does.
If you’ve ever sat down to teach the alphabet and thought:
“Why does letter A make so many sounds?”
“What do I actually teach first?”
“Am I doing this right?”
You’re not alone — and that’s exactly why I created a super simple Phonics Cheat Sheet that breaks everything down in a clear, visual way.
Before you dive in, grab the FREE printable phonics cheat sheet below — it’s the perfect quick-reference guide for teaching letter sounds the stress-free way.
Why Phonics Matters for Toddlers
Phonics is the foundation of early reading. When toddlers learn letter sounds, they’re building:
Early decoding skills
Sound awareness (phonemic awareness)
Confidence with letters
The ability to blend sounds later
This is one of the biggest predictors of future reading success — and starting early (in a playful, low-pressure way!) makes all the difference.
The Problem Most Parents Run Into
Letters don’t just make one sound.
For example:
A → /a/ /ā/ /ah/
C → /k/ /s/
G → /g/ /j/
It’s no wonder parents feel unsure about teaching phonics at home.
That’s why I designed the Phonics Cheat Sheet — it lists every common letter sound in a toddler-friendly format that matches how you’ll teach them in preschool and kindergarten.
💡 Pro Tip: Keep the cheat sheet on your fridge or in your homeschool binder for quick reference during activities.
How to Teach Letter Sounds (The Easy Way)
1. Start with the most common sound
Each letter has multiple sounds, but toddlers should begin with the one they’ll use most often. The free cheat sheet highlights these clearly.
2. Use real objects and sensory play
Examples:
Hide objects that begin with /b/ in a sensory bin
Make letter-sound “scooping” stations
Use playdough to form letters while saying the sound
3. Keep practice short and playful
Think: 3–5 minutes of focused phonics paired with hands-on fun.
4. Repeat sounds often and casually
Point out letter sounds while cooking, driving, reading — the more repeated exposure, the better.
Free Phonics Cheat Sheet (Must-Have for Toddler Learning!)
This printable includes:
The most common sound for every letter
Secondary sounds parents often forget
A toddler-friendly layout that builds confidence
Beautiful pastel illustrations that make learning feel fun
A quick-reference tool you can use with ANY activity
Want to Take Phonics Further? Try the Letter Sounds Flashcards
If your toddler loves hands-on learning, my Letter Sounds Flashcards are the perfect companion to the cheat sheet. They help toddlers:
Practice sounds through play
Match objects to beginning sounds
Build fine motor skills through sorting, matching, and sensory play
Gain confidence before preschool or kindergarten
Parents tell me all the time how these cards completely transformed their reading routine — making it something their child asks to do.
✨ After downloading the cheat sheet, keep an eye on your inbox.
I’ll send you a few playful phonics activities + an exclusive discount on the physical flashcards.
Playful Ways to Practice Phonics at Home
Here are easy, low-prep ideas that work with the cheat sheet and flashcards:
Sensory sound hunt — hide cards or objects that begin with the same sound in a sensory bin
Letter sorting tray — match picture cards to their beginning letter
Sound hop — place letters on the floor and let your toddler hop to the sound you call
Mini sound stations — set up 3 baskets labeled with letters and let your toddler sort objects
These are the kinds of activities that make learning feel like PLAY — and get those little neurons firing.
Ready to Make Phonics Simple?
Download your free cheat sheet below and start feeling confident teaching letter sounds — in minutes.