My proven method for having the biggest impact on your child's phonics skills

littlelearnerstuto
Apr 14
2 min read

If I Only Had 10 Minutes a Day to Support My Child’s Phonics, I’d Do This...

If you’re a busy parent (and let’s face it, who isn’t?), you might be wondering:

“What’s the one thing I can do that will actually move the needle with my child’s reading?”

Well, if I only had ten minutes a day to support my child’s phonics skills, I’d always come back to this one simple - but powerful - strategy.

And I’m going to share it with you today.

Focus on Exactly What They Need

To make those ten minutes count, it’s all about targeting the gaps - not guessing, not doing random worksheets, not repeating what they already know (to a degree we need to do this with phonics to create fluency).

Here’s exactly what I would do:

Step-by-Step: My 10-Minute Phonics Strategy

Do a speedy sound check. Grab your phonics flashcards (or make your own), and run through them quickly—just one flash after the other.

Sort the sounds into three piles:
✅ Confident: Sounds they know speedily and accurately.
⏸️ Hesitant: Sounds they get... but pause or guess first.
❌ Unknown: Sounds they don’t know or confuse with others.

Keep track of the results weekly. I like to jot down the sounds from each pile on a sticky note or in a notebook—nothing fancy! That way I can see progress week by week, and spot which ones need a little more attention.

Play focused games to target the tricky sounds. Once I know the gaps, I use playful activities that specifically practise those sounds they’re finding tricky - so every minute we spend together is building real confidence and skill.

How Do I Know This Works?

Because it’s the exact method I’ve used with my Reception and Year 1 classes over the past 12 years - and the results are incredible.

It takes the stress out of phonics, and it gives children the gift of learning in a way that’s fun, focused, and feels like play.

Parents often tell me, “I had no idea it could be this simple!” And honestly? It can.

✨ Want the Full Toolkit?

If you’d love to do this confidently at home - with easy flashcards, ready-to-go games, and a simple guide to track progress - then my Phonics Through Playbooks were made for you.

Each playbook (for Preschool, Reception, or Year 1) gives you exactly what to do in just 10 minutes a day.