Parent guide
What your child learns
- The sound the letter s makes: a long, pure hiss, sss
- That we write that sound with the letter s
- How to trace the shape of a lowercase s with one finger
- A first peek at the six starter sounds: s, a, t, i, p, n
What happens in the video
It starts with a sound. Sss. Bulbul is hissing like a little snake, and he will not stop until someone notices.
Zimal looks down and spots a snake made of seeds curled across the rug. She runs her finger along it and, look, it is the shape of the letter s. She says the sound as she traces it, sss, from top to bottom.
Then Zaviyar brings over a basket of letter tiles: s, a, t, i, p and n. Bulbul sings the hook, Sss is for snake, and leaves a gap after each line for your child to hiss it back.
Before you press play
Hiss like a snake together for a few seconds. It warms up the sound and makes the video feel like a game your child already knows.
Getting the sound right
Say sss, a long hiss with nothing after it. Try not to say suh or es. Teeth come close together, lips stay relaxed, and air slides out over the tongue.
If your child says suh, that is completely normal. Just say the pure sound back to them, smile, and keep going.
Where this fits
Schools that teach synthetic phonics start with the same six sounds, s, a, t, i, p and n, often called group 1. They come first because you can build lots of short words from them straight away, like sat, pin, tap and nap.
This video is the first of the six. Once your child knows the pure sound for each one, blending them into words comes much more easily.
While you watch
- Bulbul leaves a short pause after each line. That gap is for your child, so let them fill it.
- When Zimal traces the s on the rug, trace it in the air together.
- Watch it twice. Little ones join in much more on the second go.
Three things to do after
- Make a seed snake. Pour a handful of lentils or rice onto a tray and shape a big s together. Please stay close, since small grains are a choking risk for under 3s.
- Go on a sss hunt. Find three things at home that start with sss, like a sock, a spoon or soap. Hiss the first sound of each one.
- Trace it in sand or flour. A thin layer in a baking tray works well. Say sss while drawing the shape.
Words to practise
Sing along
Sounds, sounds, little sounds,
let us say them all around.
s, a, t, i, p, n,
say them once and say again.
Sss is for snake, sliding on the floor,
sss, sss, sss, say it once more.
