Jolly Phonics Songs and Actions: How They Work and How to Use Them
In Jolly Phonics, every one of the 42 letter sounds has an action and a short song. For /s/, children weave a hand like a snake while saying "sss"; for /m/, they rub their tummy and say "mmm" as if food tastes good. The actions and songs make each sound easier to remember because children see, hear, say and move at the same time. They're a memory aid for the sounds, not a replacement for blending and reading.
This page explains why the actions and songs work, how to use them in class and at home, and the common mistakes that stop them from helping. It's part of our complete guide to Jolly Phonics.
Why Actions Help Children Remember Sounds
Learning 42 sounds is a big memory task for a 4-year-old. Jolly Phonics uses a multi-sensory approach: each sound is linked to a story, a picture, an action and a song. When a child forgets a sound, the action often brings it back.
- Movement helps memory. Doing an action while saying a sound links the sound to a physical memory.
- Actions give an instant check. A teacher can glance at a whole class doing the actions and see who knows each sound.
- They help children still learning English. Actions carry meaning without relying on vocabulary, which helps children who speak another language at home.
A Few Examples of the Actions
/s/
Weave your hand like a snake, saying "sss"
Group 1
/a/
Wiggle your fingers up your arm like ants
Group 1
/t/
Turn your head side to side, as if watching tennis
Group 1
/m/
Rub your tummy, as if something tastes good
Group 2
Each action connects to a short story introducing the sound. Children learn all 42 as they learn the 42 sounds of Jolly Phonics.
What Are the Jolly Phonics Songs?
The Jolly Songs are short songs, one for each sound, set to familiar tunes that children often already know, like nursery rhymes. Each song repeats the sound clearly so children hear it on its own, not buried in a word.
The official Jolly Songs are published as books, audio and an app by the programme's publisher.
How to Use Songs and Actions in Class
Introduce the sound with its story
Show the action and do it together while saying the sound
Sing the song for the new sound
Review old sounds quickly by showing letters and asking children to do the action and say the sound
Blend straight away using the new sound, so the action leads to reading, not just performing
How to Use Them at Home
- One sound a day: do the action and sing the song for the sound your child learned in class.
- Action quiz: you do the action, and your child says the sound, or the other way round.
- Hunt for the sound: find things at home that start with today's sound, doing the action each time.
- Drop the action gradually: once your child knows a sound instantly, encourage them to say it without the action.
Common Mistakes with Songs and Actions
Singing songs for months without blending
Children can perform all 42 songs but still can't read
Blend words from week one
Adding "uh" to sounds while singing
Children learn "suh" instead of "sss"
Model pure sounds; stop the song to check
Needing the action forever
Slows reading down
Fade out actions once sounds are automatic
Using letter names in the songs
Mixes up names and sounds
Use sounds only at this stage
Many parents tell us their child "knows all the Jolly Phonics songs but can't read". That usually means the songs and actions were learned without enough blending practice. See how to teach blending and the 5 skills of Jolly Phonics.
Learn the Actions and Sounds With a Teacher
In our small-group online Jolly Phonics classes, children learn each sound with its action and then use it straight away to blend and read. Teachers and parents can learn every action, with correct pronunciation, in our Jolly Phonics teacher training course.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does Jolly Phonics use actions? +
Actions make the 42 sounds easier to remember by linking each sound to a movement. They're part of Jolly Phonics' multi-sensory approach.
How many Jolly Phonics actions are there? +
There is one action for each of the 42 letter sounds.
What is the action for s in Jolly Phonics? +
Children weave their hand like a snake while making a long "sss" sound.
Are the Jolly Phonics songs necessary? +
Songs help children remember sounds, but they're a support. Children also need blending, segmenting and tricky words to learn to read.
My child knows all the songs but cannot read. Why? +
Usually because the sounds were learned without enough blending practice. Focus on joining sounds into short words every day.
When should children stop using the actions? +
Once a child recognises a sound instantly, the action can gradually be dropped. Actions stay useful as a reminder for sounds a child still finds hard.