Stage 2 of 5 · Letter Sounds

Your child is ready to start.

The signs are there. This is a great time to begin.

The quiz shows your child can say their sounds and remember what they learn. That means this is a good time to begin gentle letter-sound work, without rushing into reading books before the foundation is there.

Below, I'll show you where your child is on the reading path, what to do next, and the kit I recommend for this stage.

How reading gets built

Your are at the starting line.

Talking and Hearing Sounds

Speaking, listening, and hearing the sounds inside words.

Learning Letter Sounds

You Are Here

The stage to focus on now.

Blending Words

Putting sounds together to read words.

Advanced Reading Skills

Letter patterns and trickier words.

Reading Fluently

Reading smoothly, and understanding what they read.

You do not need to do everything at once. The best next step is to help your child master a small set of high-value letter sounds first.

Your next steps

Start with the right sounds.

Here is the simple plan I recommend for beginning letter sounds.

1

Teach the sound first

Say the sound, not the letter name. For example, teach /m/ before "em," because the sound is what your child will use when they start reading words.

2

Start small

You do not need to teach all 26 letters at once. Start with a small group of useful sounds, practice them often, and add more when your child is ready.

3

Keep it short and consistent

A few minutes a day is enough. The goal is not long lessons. The goal is clear practice your child can actually remember.

4

Connect sounds to words

Once your child knows a few sounds, you can begin showing them how sounds come together. That is how letter sounds start turning into real reading.

Portrait

Meet your teacher

Hey, I'm Spencer.

I created Toddlers Can Read to help parents teach reading in a way that feels simple, doable, and research-backed. I am a former award-winning kindergarten and first grade teacher and teacher trainer, and I taught my own son to read at two. I have helped tens of thousands of families learn what to teach, what to skip, and how to know when their child is ready for the next step.

Most parents do not need more random activities. They need a clear starting point and a simple plan they can actually follow. That is what this stage is for.

Done for you

The Beginning Letter Sounds Kit was built for this stage.

Everything you need to teach letter sounds clearly, practice them consistently, and build the foundation for reading words.

Learning Letter Sounds Course

Short parent lessons that show you exactly what to teach and how.

ABC Sound Flashcards

Simple, beautiful cards that help your child connect letters with sounds.

Learning Sounds Course Handouts

Quick reference pages so you always know what to practice next.

Double-sided Whiteboard

A simple tool for practicing sounds and getting ready for blending.

Everyday price $149

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FROM PARENTS

Simple. Science-backed. Success.

“

I honestly had no idea where to begin. The quiz showed me exactly where my daughter was and the very first thing to work on. That alone took so much pressure off.

Maria, mom of a 4-year-old

“

This is definitely THE program when it comes to teaching your littles how to read!

Tiffany, mom of a 3-year-old