Free phonics game · Ages 2–5
Letter Grove: which letter does it start with?
Letter Grove helps children hear the first sound in a word. Mithi shows a picture, an apple, a bear, a penguin, says its word, and asks which letter it starts with. Your child picks from three letters.
- Ages 2–5
- Free
- No ads
- No sign-up
- Phone · tablet · computer
Plays in your browserWith the sound on, the word is shown as a picture and spoken rather than written, so children really listen for the sound. (With the sound off, the rest of the word appears beside a gap for its first letter, and a Clue button can fill it in.) If they pick the wrong letter, Mithi says which letter they chose and suggests saying the word slowly.
What your child learns
- Hearing the first sound in a word (beginning sounds)
- Linking sounds to letters
- Letter recognition
- Listening skills that come before reading
How to play
- Look at the picture and listen to the word.
- Say the word slowly and listen for its first sound.
- Tap the letter it starts with.
- Press Next discovery to hear the next word.
Play together
Stretch words out slowly, “mmm-ilk”, and let your child shout out the first sound. Then swap: they pick a word and you guess its first letter.
Good to know, grown-ups
- Free, for realNo adverts, no in-app purchases and nothing to unlock with money.
- No sign-upNo account, no email and no personal details. Just open it and play.
- Any screenPlays in the browser on phones, tablets and computers. Nothing to download.
- Ages 2–5Made for children aged 2 to 5, and fun to play together.
Questions grown-ups ask
What are “beginning sounds”?
The first sound you hear in a word, like the “b” in bear. Spotting it is one of the first steps towards reading and spelling.
Why isn’t the word written on screen?
With the sound on, children could otherwise copy the first letter instead of listening for it, so the picture and Mithi’s voice give the word. With the sound off, the word is shown with a gap for its first letter.
What age is Letter Grove for?
Children aged about 2 to 5, especially preschoolers who know some letters and are starting to link them to sounds.
