Multisensory Phonics Games: Engaging All Senses in Learning to Read

By Mikayla Peters and Michael Fannin

May 3, 2023

As parents, we all want our children to be successful readers. One of the most effective ways to teach children to read is through phonics, which focuses on the relationship between letters and sounds. By engaging all their senses in the learning process, children can build a strong foundation in phonics.

In this blog post, we will share five fun and engaging multisensory phonics games that you can easily incorporate into your child's daily routine. These activities will not only make learning enjoyable but also help your child develop necessary reading skills.

1. Tactile Letter Tracing

Materials needed:

• Sandpaper or textured paper

• Cardboard or thick paper

• Scissors

• Marker

Instructions:

1. Cut out letters from sandpaper or textured paper and glue them onto pieces of cardboard or thick paper.

2. Teach your child the correct way to trace each letter, providing verbal guidance on how to form the shape.

3. Encourage your child to trace the letters with their fingers while repeating the sound each letter makes.

Benefits:

This activity helps children associate the shape of the letter with the sound it makes. The tactile experience of tracing the textured letters reinforces the connection between touch and learning.

2. Taste and Sound Matching

Materials needed:

• Various food items with distinct tastes (e.g., sour, sweet, salty, bitter)

• Small bowls or plates

• Letter cards or magnetic letters

Instructions:

1. Choose a phonics sound that your child is working on (e.g., the "s" sound).

2. Select foods that start with the target sound (e.g., strawberries, salt, sugar).

3. Place each food item in a separate bowl and label them with the corresponding letter.

4. Have your child taste each food item and match it with the correct letter by listening to the sound it starts with.

5. Encourage your child to say the food's name and the sound it starts with (e.g., "strawberry starts with the 's' sound").

Benefits:

This multisensory activity engages your child's sense of taste and helps them associate the taste of specific foods with the corresponding phonics sound.

3. Sight and Sound I Spy

Materials needed:

• Objects or pictures featuring the target phonics sound

• A small box or basket

Instructions:

1. Collect objects or pictures that feature the target phonics sound (e.g., for the "a" sound, you can use an apple, an ant, or a picture of an alligator).

2. Place these objects or pictures in a box or basket.

3. Have your child pick an object or picture and identify the sound it starts with.

4. Turn the activity into an "I Spy" game by describing the object or picture and having your child guess what it is based on the sound.

Benefits:

This game engages your child's sense of sight and helps them make connections between the visual representation of objects and their corresponding phonics sounds.

4. Musical Phonics

Materials needed:

• Musical instruments or household items that can be used as instruments (e.g., pots, pans, plastic containers)

• Letter cards, magnetic letters, or foam letters

Instructions:

1. Arrange the musical instruments or household items around the room.

2. Place a letter card or foam letter next to each instrument.

3. Teach your child the phonics sound associated with each letter.

4. Have your child go around the room playing each instrument while saying the corresponding sound.

Benefits:

This activity engages your child's sense of hearing and helps them associate the phonics sounds with different musical tones.

5. Scented Phonics

Materials needed:

• Essential oils, scented candles, spices/herbs, or scented markers

• Letter cards or paper

Instructions:

1. Choose a phonics sound that your child is working on (e.g., the "b" sound).

2. Select scents that start with the target sound (e.g., banana, blueberry, or bubblegum).

3. Add the scents to the letter cards or paper using essential oils, scented candles, or scented markers, or ask your child to trace the letter with their finger in the spices or herbs.

4. Have your child sort the cards based on the scents and identify the sound each scent starts with.

Benefits:

This activity engages your child's sense of smell and helps them associate different scents with the corresponding phonics sounds.

Incorporating multisensory phonics games into your child's learning routine can make a significant difference in their reading development. By engaging all their senses, children can build a strong foundation in phonics and become confident readers. Happy learning!