I have a 4-year-old and a 3-year-old that I’m using the program with. I’m happy with the sound and the letter recognition, but I’m having problems with the blends for reading.

Sometimes the concept of blending letters together to form a word can be a bit of a tricky concept for some children. Some children grasp the idea right away, and some children can’t quite make the transfer from knowing the letters to applying the letters. Here are few ideas that might help.

I like to think of as many blending games as I can using a set of cards that have the letters that they know on them. I hold them in my hand and let them pick three cards and lay them out. Then we sound out what they picked. Sometimes they’re nonsense words, but they get the idea that I want them to read what they picked. Then I reverse it and I pick three cards. We play this game back and forth several times and they hear and see me read what I picked. Seeing me do it often helps them understand what I’m trying to get them to do.

Another blending trick I use that often helps them hear the difference between sounding out each letter and blending them into words is to read a very familiar book to them (or at least a page of it) sounding out each letter as I go. This has to be a very familiar book that they know and can instantly recognize that this is not how the book should be read. They can hear the difference between sounding out each letter and blending those letters into words. Repetition is the key here. Keeping it fun will make them want to “play” again. Good luck and enjoy the process of working with your children. Good job.