Phonological Awareness

Sounds All Around: The Development of Phonemic Awareness, the Ability to Distinguish the Sounds of Speech

Your child has been communicating with you for a while, through both speech and gestures. He is now reaching a stage of phonemic awareness, developing an ability to sort out and distinguish between the different sounds that make up words. This is an important skill that will help him as he begins learning to read and write. At this time, your child may be able to tell you the first sound in his name or a common word. If you read a story that has rhymes, he may notice and be able to point out the rhyming words or laugh at a silly rhyme. He may also be aware of the rhythm of language and be able to clap along with a song or even as he says the syllables of a word.

Has your child achieved the following Phonological Awareness developmental milestones yet? If yes, check off all of the skill(s) he has already mastered to date.