Fun with Voice Sounds: Explore Phase 1 Phonics Through Playful Speaking – Week 10
BANG! WHOOSH! ACHOO! (And Other Excellent Excuses to Be Loud)
Onomatopoeia!
(And if you just said it out loud in a dramatic voice, we’re already best friends.)
Also… supercalifragilisticexpialidocious!
No reason. It just wanted to make an appearance.
I get a bit nostalgic sometimes 😉
So, Why Are We Talking About This?
This week’s focus is voice sounds—and what better way to get you and your child using your voices than with words that basically force you to do it?
- What are Voice Sounds in Phonics?
- Why Voice Sounds Matter for Early Reading
- Greetings from Grace
- 5 Easy Voice Sound Games to Play at Home
- Free Phonics Activity Worksheet
- Week 11’s Preview
- FAQs
Enter: onomatopoeia.
(Yes, it’s a mouthful. But it’s a fabulous one.)
Wait—What Is Onomatopoeia Again?
It’s one of those words you probably haven’t heard in a while unless you’re a secret poetry fan or happen to teach Year 3 or 4 English.
But here’s the simple version:
Onomatopoeia = words that sound like what they mean.
Think:
- Bang!
- Zoom!
- Splish splash!
- Pssssshhh!
- Buzz!
You don’t just read them—you hear them. You feel them.
They practically beg to be acted out.
Let’s Be Honest…
Have you ever tried to say “bang” in a monotone voice?
Try it.
(I’ll wait.)
See? It just doesn’t work. It’s like a little crime against storytelling.
Okay, maybe that’s a bit dramatic. But only a bit.
Imagine you’re reading aloud and you get to:
“Mr. Michaels was happily driving his little blue car down a peaceful country road. Birds were chirping, the sun was shining, and up ahead, the sparkly lake shimmered like a giant puddle of diamonds. Everything was calm and quiet…
Until…
Splutter… splutter…
The engine gave a strange cough.
“Eh?” said Mr. Michaels, leaning forward.Then—psssssh!—puffs of steam shot out.
Pssssh… pssssh…
The car started to shake…
It gurgled… it jiggled… it wibbled and wobbled.Mr. Michaels gripped the steering wheel.
“Hold on!” he cried.The car rattled!
It rumbled!And then—
BANG!”
You can’t not deliver that with some drama, right?
Why It Matters
These kinds of words are brilliant for phonics and early reading because they:
- Encourage vocal exploration
- Help kids associate sound with print
- Build confidence in speaking
- Make reading feel exciting
And let’s be honest—they give us parents a chance to be a bit silly too. Which is always welcome.
This Week’s Challenge?
Get noisy. Get silly. Get vocal.
Leave quiet, polite reading voices at the door.
Go all in. Big sound effects. Dramatic faces. Full performance if you’re feeling brave.
Need some words to get you started?
- Whoosh
- Achoo
- Beep
- Buzz
- Zoom
- Crash
- Pop
- Click
- Splat
- Hiss
(There’s more over on my Instagram post if you fancy a scroll.)
So go on—exercise those vocal cords this week. Let the sound words fly.
Your child will love it, and you might be surprised how much you enjoy it too.
Oh!
Hi!
I’m Grace. BTW. 🤭
Forgot to say that at the start.
Intro
If your child loves making sound effects, copying animal noises, or speaking in a silly robot voice — brilliant. That means they’re ready for Aspect 6 of Phase 1 phonics: Voice Sounds.
This part of phonics is all about exploring the different ways we can make sounds with our voices — from whispering and humming to stretching and bouncing sounds in fun, playful ways.
It’s not about correctness. It’s about confidence — and helping your child become more aware of how sounds feel, move, and change when spoken out loud.
Why Voice Sounds Matter in Phonics
Voice sounds help children:
- Explore how sounds are made using their mouth, lips, and tongue
- Stretch and manipulate individual sounds (great prep for blending)
- Build expressive language skills
- Become more confident and playful with speech
It’s also a brilliant way to build self-esteem and oral fluency — especially for shy children or late talkers.
This week, we’re sharing 5 easy games to help your child have fun with their voice — no pressure, no prep, just joyful sound play.
5 Easy Voice Sound Games to Try at Home
1. Sound Machine
Pretend to be a sound machine! Ask your child to “press a button” on your arm or shoulder to activate a funny sound:
🤖 “Weeeeee!”
🐮 “Moooooo!”
🚀 “Zzzzzzzoooooom!”
🟣 Try this: Swap roles and let your child be the sound machine — they’ll love it.
2. Voice Mirrors
Sit together and copy each other’s funny sounds using different voice types:
- Loud / quiet
- Fast / slow
- High / low
- Smooth / bouncy
🟣 Top tip: Use a mirror for added giggles and a chance to watch how sounds are made.
3. Robot Talk
Say a word using “robot voice” — slowly and clearly, stretching out each sound:
🗣️ “c-a-t”
Let your child guess the word, then take turns making up your own.
🟣 Why this helps: It introduces oral blending — the very first step towards reading words.
4. Sound Stories
Tell a short, silly story and add sound effects using your voice:
🧁 “The cake went… SPLAT!”
🐱 “The cat went… meow, meow, meow!”
🟣 Bonus tip: Use toy prompts or picture books for inspiration.
5. Animal Sounds Guessing Game
Make an animal noise and let your child guess what it is. Then swap!
🐵 “Ooo ooo ahh ahh!”
🐍 “Sssssss…”
🦁 “Raaaaar!”
🟣 Extension idea: Try “opposite voices” — a loud mouse or a squeaky lion!
Download our Free Sound and Act Voice Sounds Activity Worksheets
Want a ready-made idea to keep sound play going?
📥 Download our Sound and Act Voice Sounds Printable Worksheets
Perfect for boosting confidence, creativity, and early speaking and listening skills through fun.
Coming Up Next Week…
Next week, we’ll explore oral blending and segmenting — the final piece of Phase 1 phonics. You’ll learn how to support your child with early word play that lays the foundation for reading.
🟡 Read next: [Week 11 – Blending Sounds into Words: Early Reading Practice Made Simple]
FAQs
What are voice sounds in phonics?
Voice sounds are the playful noises children make with their voices, like buzz, moo, zoom. They help children notice how sounds can be stretched, changed, and expressed.
Why are voice sounds important in Phase 1 phonics?
They prepare children for oral blending, improve listening and speaking skills, and make phonics fun and interactive.
What age should children learn voice sounds?
Voice sounds are explored in Nursery and early Reception (ages 3–5) as part of Phase 1 phonics.
Do I need special resources to teach voice sounds?
No. Everyday play, silly conversations, and sound games are all you need. Free printables can add structure, but they’re optional.
Can voice sound games help with speech delays?
Yes. Voice play encourages children to experiment with sounds in a low-pressure, fun way — which can build confidence and fluency.
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