*** This is part 3 of the series Teaching Toddlers to Read. You can read the other 2 parts below:
Part 1: I Want My Child to Read But I Don’t Know How: Here’s What Worked for Us
Part 2: My Toddler knows all the letter sound, What Next?
So you’ve taught your toddler all the letter sounds. Yay you.
And you’ve done beginning sounds, ending sounds, and even syllables. You are a rockstar.
Now comes the part where we put those sounds together, and that process is called blending.
Blending is when your child learns to push letter sounds together to read a word. For example, instead of saying “b…a…t” in isolation, they learn to say it smoothly as “bat.” It is one of the most important steps in early reading, but also one of the trickiest.
Let me just say upfront: this stage takes patience.
It might look like your toddler isn’t getting it. You’ll repeat the same thing over and over and get a blank stare, or they might just guess random words. But hang in there. Blending takes time, and when it clicks, it really clicks.
One thing I’ll say: Don’t rush it.
It can feel like nothing is happening for weeks, and then suddenly, your toddler is blending sounds.
So if you’re wondering how to teach blending sounds to toddlers, just know that going slow is completely okay.
Where to Start
Start small.
We are talking about two-letter words using short vowel sounds.
Start with simple consonant + vowel combinations like:
- ba, be, bi, bo, bu
- Then try ca, ce, ci, co, cu
- Keep going through the alphabet — da, fa, ga, ha, and so on.
The goal here is not speed. It is about repetition and building comfort. You want them to start hearing the sounds together, not just individually.
And here’s a little extra help — remember those toys I shared in the previous post? This is a great time to bring them back out:
- The alphabet train
- The ABC puzzle
- Flashcards with pictures
- Magnetic letters on the fridge
To make things easier for Ari and myself, I use this book by Jady A. I have mentioned her previously.
Peep Ari using it. Each page shows a letter with all five short vowel sounds. Then it moves on to simple three-letter words and later short sentences.
If you’re learning how to teach blending sounds to toddlers, these tools can help make the process smoother.
Keep it Balanced
Blending shouldn’t take over the entire day. Toddlers get tired quickly if you drill one thing for too long.
What worked for us was keeping a simple weekly routine. That way, blending was just one part of what we were learning.
During this time, we also:
- Did puzzles
- Practiced writing (you can check out that post too)
- Talked about the solar system and sense organs
- Learned Bible verses
- Colored, painted, and played
I don’t follow a strict schedule, but I do keep a rough plan so the week feels balanced. That helps your toddler stay interested and gives variety to their learning.
This mix of activities is one of my favorite ways to approach how to teach blending sounds to toddlers.
Practice is Everything
This stage takes a lot of repetition. Some days you may feel like you are going in circles, but each attempt is building something.
Eventually, you will move from “ba” and “bo” to actual words like:
- bat
- cup
- dog
- fan
When you introduce real words, especially ones that have meaning, show a picture.
Say “bat,” then show a picture of a bat.
Say “cup,” and point to a real cup.
That connection between sound and object helps them understand and remember better.
Another helpful habit is to go back and review letter sounds regularly. Sometimes things do not stick right away, and that is completely normal. On some days, before jumping into blending, take a few minutes to go over the sounds again. You might notice your child picking something up that they missed earlier.
If you are learning how to teach blending sounds to toddlers, this kind of steady review and practice really helps.
Final Thoughts
Use their toys, snacks, and daily life to reinforce what they are learning. Point to a cup and say “c-u-p.” Let them repeat after you. Make it part of your day.
Most importantly, cheer them on. Even when it’s not perfect. Even when they say the wrong word. Encourage the effort.
How to teach blending sounds to toddlers is not about being perfect. It is about showing up, being consistent, and keeping it simple.
You’ve got this, and so do they.
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