The Overlooked Skill That Makes Reading Easier

Apr 30

Written By Claire Smith

Start Here—Before Letters or Books

Before your child begins learning letters or reading simple words, there’s one essential skill they need first.

It’s not flashcards.
It’s not recognising their name.
It’s not even phonics.

It’s oral blending—the ability to hear sounds like c-a-t and say “cat.”

What Is Oral Blending?

Oral blending means combining individual sounds you hear into a whole word. For example:

You say: /d/ /o/ /g/
Your child says: “dog!”

There are no letters involved—just listening and blending. And yet, this one skill is the foundation that helps everything else in reading make sense.

Why It Matters

When children struggle with reading, it’s often because they haven’t had enough time practising this skill. Schools may rush into letters and books, and parents (understandably!) focus on visible progress.

But without blending, sounding out words becomes frustrating and disjointed. Children might know the sounds but not know how to put them together. That’s when you start to hear things like:

“I can’t do it.”
“Reading is too hard.”
“I’m not good at this.”

By focusing on oral blending early on, you help your child build the confidence and ability to decode words before they even see them on a page.

Easy Ways to Practise

Say: “Let’s play a word game! I’ll say a word in sounds, and you tell me what it is.”
Start with simple, familiar words: /s/ /u/ /n/, /m/ /u/ /m/, /p/ /i/ /g/
Celebrate every effort, not just the right answer
Keep it playful—no pressure!

Just a few minutes a day makes a big difference.