What is alliteration?
Alliteration is when words begin with the same sound, such as big brown bear or silly slippery snake. In Phase 1 phonics, alliteration activities help pupils notice and identify initial sounds in spoken words.
Alliteration is part of Aspect 5 of Phase 1 phonics and supports phonological awareness through playful speaking and listening activities.
In Nursery and Reception, pupils often explore alliteration through games, rhymes, stories, names and repeated sound patterns.
Why is alliteration important in Phase 1 phonics?
Alliteration activities help pupils begin noticing the first sound in spoken words. This supports listening skills, sound discrimination and phonological awareness before pupils begin learning written letter sounds.
Hearing repeated initial sounds also helps pupils tune into language patterns and prepares them for later blending and segmenting activities in phonics lessons.
Practical alliteration activities for EYFS
Alliteration activities work best when they are playful, repetitive and built into everyday speaking and listening opportunities.
- sort objects by their initial sound
- play silly sound games using pupils’ names
- create alliterative phrases together
- listen for repeated sounds in stories and rhymes
- use picture cards to match initial sounds
- play guessing games using spoken clues
Short speaking and listening activities repeated regularly throughout the week can help pupils become more confident hearing and recognising initial sounds.
Alliteration games for Nursery and Reception
Simple alliteration games can help pupils develop sound awareness while keeping activities engaging and practical.
Many teachers use games such as silly soup, matching games, sound sorting activities and repeated sound phrases to encourage pupils to hear and repeat initial sounds.
Adults can model alliteration naturally during play and routines by exaggerating repeated sounds in words and phrases.
Alliteration and phonological awareness
Alliteration supports phonological awareness because it helps pupils focus on individual sounds within spoken words. Pupils begin recognising that words can share the same starting sound even when the words themselves are different.
This early sound awareness supports later blending, segmenting and reading development.
Read our guide to phonological awareness in Nursery and Reception to learn more about how listening and sound awareness support early phonics learning.
Alliteration and the 7 aspects of Phase 1 phonics
Alliteration is Aspect 5 of Phase 1 phonics and builds on earlier listening and sound discrimination skills developed through environmental sounds, rhythm and rhyme and body percussion activities.
Strong alliteration skills help pupils become more aware of spoken sounds before they begin matching sounds to written letters in Phase 2.
You can learn more in our guide to the 7 aspects of Phase 1 phonics.
Alliteration activities FAQs
What is alliteration in phonics?
Alliteration is when words begin with the same sound. In Phase 1 phonics, pupils explore repeated initial sounds through games, rhymes and speaking activities.
Why is alliteration important in EYFS?
Alliteration helps pupils develop listening skills and phonological awareness by encouraging them to notice sounds within spoken words.
What age are alliteration activities suitable for?
Alliteration activities are commonly used in Nursery and Reception as part of Phase 1 phonics and speaking and listening development.
