Phonological awareness (2/6): Syllable skills
Welcome to Syllable skills, part of the Phonological awareness video series.
We recommend you watch the series in order, starting with the introduction.
I'm Nancy, a pediatric speech-language pathologist with Alberta Health Services, also called a speech therapist.
In this video, you'll learn activities to help your child build a foundation for phonological awareness by learning about syllables.
Syllables are the beats that make up words.
Every syllable has 1 vowel and may or may not include consonant sounds.
For example, eye and dog have 1 syllable.
Open and paper have 2 syllables.
And computer and elephant have 3 syllables.
There are 2 activities you can try to help your child learn about syllables.
Break words into syllables.
The word umbrella breaks into the syllables “um"-“bre"-“lla."
Blend syllables into words.
The syllables “ho"-“tel" blend into the word hotel.
Your child can try these activities starting at 3 years of age.
Start with 1 and 2 syllable words.
Once your child can do the activities with 1 and 2 syllable words, try words with 3 or more syllables.
To introduce these activities to your child, model them first.
Modelling means demonstrating and talking about the activities while your child listens.
When modelling, the goal is to show your child how to do the activities, not to put pressure on your child to do them.
[Video example]
[Parent] You ready?
You've got your backpack.
Backpack has 2 syllables.
Remember, syllables are the beats in words.
[Both] “Back"-“pack."
[Parent] It has 2.
And if we did hat.
[Both] “Hat."
[Parent] It just has 1 beat.
If we do shoes.
[Both] “Shoes."
[Parent] Just 1 syllable.
What about sunglasses?
[Parent] “Sun"-“gla"-“sses" has 3.
[Both] “Sun"-“gla"-“sses."
[Parent] I'm going to make a word with syllables.
“Sci"-“ssors."
Scissors.
OK, I'm going to make another word.
“Pa“-“per."
[Both] Paper!
[Narrator] Practice with words from everyday conversation, play, and books.
[End video example]
You can model these activities throughout your day.
Next, teach your child how to do the activities.
Explain the activities to your child, try them together, and then encourage your child to try them on their own.
Help your child when they make a mistake.
Here's how to teach your child how to break words into syllables.
[Video example]
[Parent] Do you know words have beats in them?
They're called syllables.
Like jacket.
“Ja"-“cket" has 2 syllables.
Let's try together, ready?
“Ja"-“cket."
Mm, good one.
[Narrator] Try clapping the syllables.
[Parent] Let's try another one.
What about winter?
Let's do it together.
Ready, get ready to clap.
[Both] “Win"-“ter."
[Parent] Yes.
2 syllables.
Hmm, let's think of another one.
Look, this is hat.
Let's try hat together, ready?
[Both] “Hat."
“Hat."
It just has 1.
Let's do it again, ready?
[Both] “Hat."
Right, hat.
It just has 1.
Hmm, let's try another one.
Cold.
[Child] “c."
[Parent] It's so tricky.
Let's do it together.
[Both] “Cold."
It just has 1 beat.
Ready, let's do it again together.
[Both] “Cold."
[End video example]
Teach your child to blend syllables together to make words.
[Video example]
[Parent] Let's make some words with syllables, OK?
Hmm, let's try this one.
The syllables are going to be “pea"-“nut."
And then if I put them together, “pea"-“nut," I get, peanut.
Like peanut butter.
[Narrator] Show blending with your hands.
[Parent] OK, let's try one together.
OK, What about “a"-“pple."
[Both] “A"-“pple."
[Child] Apple.
[Parent] You're right!
Let me think of another one.
OK, you try to do “ea"-“ting."
[Child] “Ea"-“ting," eating.
[Parent] Great!
[End video example]
Do these activities in a quiet place with few distractions to help your child focus on you and the activity.
Face your child so they can see your mouth and hear you.
Speak clearly and naturally.
Make important parts of words stand out by saying them a little louder or slower.
Spend a few minutes of focused time doing one activity or try different examples throughout your day.
Remember these activities to help your child with syllables.
Break words into syllables and blend syllables into words.
Use these activities however they work best for you and your child.
Once your child can do the activities easily on their own, they're ready to move on to the skills in the next video.
Continue watching this Phonological awareness series.
Rhyme time is next.
[Outro]
Find information, support, and services for you and your child by clicking on the link in the description below.
For 24/7 nurse advice and general health information call Health Link at 811.
