My Child Knows Letter Sounds But Can't Read Words — What's Missing?

Learning letter sounds is an important first step, but knowing individual sounds doesn't automatically mean a child is ready to read words.

Key Takeaway

Knowing letter sounds is only the beginning. Children also need to learn how to blend those sounds together.

How Sounds Become Words

Start With Sounds

Children need to become comfortable hearing and producing individual sounds.

For example:

m → /m/
t→ /t/
a → /a/

Focus on the letter sound rather than the letter name.

Always show the letter when asking your child to say the sound. Seeing the letter helps children connect the sound to the symbol they will later see in words.

Once individual sounds become familiar, children are ready to begin blending sounds together to read words

Now try blending just two sounds together

m → a → ma

Focus on the the sounds, stretch each sound: mmmmaaaa → ma

Then move to simple three-sound words:

m → a → t → mat

Focus on the the sounds, stretch each sound: mmmmmaaaaat

There is no need to teach the entire alphabet before beginning to read.

A small group of carefully chosen letters can already be used to practice blending and build simple words. As children become confident, new sounds and words can be added gradually.

The goal isn’t to move quickly. It’s to make each new step manageable.

⚠️Common Mistakes

Avoid adding uh at the end of individual letter sounds: m+uh=muh. This can cause problems when blending two and three letter sounds together. Keep sounds short and crisp.

Try This Next

If your child knows letter sounds but isn't yet reading words, spend time practicing blending before moving ahead. Small, successful steps build confidence and make reading easier.

Ready to Get Started?

From Sounds to Reading takes parents through this process one small step at a time — from learning letter sounds, to blending, building words, reading sentences and eventually reading decodable books.

Try Lesson 1 Free

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