Teach Toddlers to Read by Mastering Sight Words and Blending

*** This is part 4 of the series Teaching Toddlers to Read. You can read the other 3 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?
Part 3: How to Teach Blending Sounds to Toddlers (Fun and Stress Free)

How has blending been going? Stressful? Tiring? Oh, are you almost ready to give up? Hang in there, mama: you’re closer than you think!

If you’re new here, welcome! This is Part 4 of my series on teaching our toddlers to read. I’m sharing the skills I’ve used to teach my 2-year-old to read. Over the past few weeks, we’ve been focusing on different aspects of early reading, and today, I’m excited to share more with you.

Keep Going, Mama!

I know it can feel overwhelming sometimes. It might seem like you’re not making progress or like your little one isn’t catching on as quickly as you hoped.
But please don’t give up!

You are doing an incredible job, and every little bit counts.
Even when it feels hard, you’re still building the foundation for reading and learning. This is exactly why it’s so important to continue, even when you’re tired or frustrated — you’re teaching your child how to read, one step at a time.

This is just the beginning; you are closer than you think.

An Encouragement from Ari

Ari (my son) initially didn’t like blending. He would literally stop on some days and get frustrated. On those days, I took a break and just encouraged him to keep going. It wasn’t always easy, but I kept reminding him that learning takes time. After a couple of days, we’d go back to it with a fresh start.

And now, we’re reading decodable books from the library, and Ari is loving it! Watching him pick up words on his own and feel proud of his progress is truly magical. It’s amazing to see all that hard work starting to pay off. This progress is exactly what happens when you keep going and continue to teach toddlers to read.

Sight Words — Let’s Make It Fun!

Now, let’s talk about sight words. These are essential because they help kids recognize common words without having to sound them out. You know, words like the, and, to, it. Incorporating sight words is a key part of how you teach toddlers to read because it speeds up their reading and builds confidence.

Here’s a method I use that really works for sight words: The Fame Game

• Go over the word list first — you can print out a list of sight words or use flashcards. Say the word aloud and have your little one repeat after you.
• Scatter the words on the floor: Spread them out all over the room, so they’re scattered like little treasure pieces. (Trust me, it feels like a mini scavenger hunt!)
• Call it out: Now, as you call out each word, your little one has to run to the word and touch it. You can even make it into a game with rewards for each word they find. Make it fun and turn it into a race! Be sure to explain the meanings of the words or ask your little one what they think. This helps them connect the words to things they already know.
  

The key is to keep it playful. Sight words don’t have to be boring. The more they enjoy it, the more they’ll want to practice. This is how you keep the fun alive while continuing to teach toddlers to read.

Pro Tip

Please encourage your little one to listen for the sounds at both the beginning and the end of the word. (Now you see why beginning and ending sounds are so important! For more details, check out this blog post My Toddler knows all the letter sound, What Next?)
For example, with the word “and”, you can focus on the “ah” sound at the start and the “nd” at the end. They’ll start picking up patterns and it’ll click faster!

Disclaimer

Your little one won’t want to stop once they start having fun with this! So be ready for some serious reading sessions. 😅

Final Thoughts

Learning to read takes time, patience, and lots of practice. Every step forward, no matter how small, is a victory. Keep encouraging your little one, and don’t forget to enjoy the journey together. Whether it’s blending sounds, mastering sight words, or reading decodable books, you’re building a strong foundation for a lifelong love of reading.

You’re doing amazing, mama.
Keep going, and let’s watch those little readers grow! 💛

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