How to practise phonics in 10 minutes a day
Asha Nair · Reading Specialist14 July 2026 · 1 min read
The 10-minute shape
Two minutes of sound warm-up: say yesterday's sounds together. Five minutes of the new thing: one sound, three or four words that use it. Three minutes of celebration: read one tiny sentence or play one quick game, and stop while it's still fun.
Stop while it's fun
The biggest mistake loving parents make is stretching a good session until it turns bad. End on a win. Tomorrow's session starts with a child who remembers enjoying it.
What about busy days?
On chaotic days, do the two-minute warm-up only. The streak matters more than the minutes — consistency is what builds readers.