Why Automaticity Comes Before Fluency in Reading (With 10 Fun Memory Games to Boost Learning!)

If your child is learning how to read through phonics, you may have heard the term 'reading with fluency'.

Fluency is essential for comprehension because when a child can read fluently, their brain can focus on understanding the text rather than struggling to decode words. However, fluency develops after automaticity, meaning children must first recognise words quickly and effortlessly before they can read with smoothness and expression.

This blog post will explain why automaticity is crucial and has ten fun memory games to help your child strengthen their reading foundation from as young as 18 months!

What Is the Difference Between Fluency and Automaticity in Reading?

Many parents and educators use the terms 'automaticity' and 'fluency' interchangeably, but they are not the same. While both skills are essential to develop into a strong reader, automaticity comes first, and fluency develops later.

Automaticity in reading is the ability to recognise words instantly and effortlessly, without needing to sound them out. The two key components of automaticity are:

1. Accuracy - Looking at a word and accurately reading what it says without breaking up the sounds.
2. Speed in word recognition - As your child builds on their phonic knowledge, and has regular exposure to reading books, their speed with naturally develop.

Fluency is the ability to read smoothly, accurately and with appropriate expression. It has three key components:

1. Accuracy - Reading words correctly without frequent mistakes.
2. Pace - Reading at a conversational speed, not too slow or too rushed.
3. Expression (Prosody) - Using tone, rhythm, and emphasis to convey meaning, like how we naturally speak.

As much as we want to make phonics as fun and engaging as possible for our children, it is essentially one big memory game. Automatic word recognition is a memory-based skill, built through exposure and repetition. This is why phonics memory games are so important for early readers. In general, the better their memory skills, the easier phonics will be - this is obviously discounting any other needs your child has.

Why Memory Is Essential for Early Reading Success

Working memory is like a mental space where children temporarily hold and manipulate information. It’s essential when they’re learning to read because it helps them remember sounds (phonemes), letters (graphemes), and even whole words. When children work on phonics, for example, their working memory helps them connect a letter like "b" to the sound /b/. They then combine these sounds to form words. As children are sounding out words, they also must remember the sounds previously said and the order they were in to blend them all together. As they practise, this process becomes more automatic, meaning they can recall these sounds and letters with less effort, which leads to smoother reading.

Parents can start memory-building games as early as 18 months to lay the foundation for reading skills. Memory games at this stage can help strengthen your child’s ability to remember sounds and words, which will boost their phonics memory and eventually support their early reading strategies. Simple games like matching letter cards or playing “I spy” with sounds can help build the cognitive skills needed for more complex tasks like word recognition. The earlier you start, the more likely your child will develop strong automaticity in reading.

10 Fun Memory Games to Build Automaticity in Reading

Here are ten simple memory games to try at home that will help lay the foundations for your child reading faster and more confidently.

5 General Memory Games for Cognitive Development

1. What’s Missing? – Place 3-5 objects on a tray, let the child study them, then remove one. Ask, “What’s missing?” This boosts visual memory and is a perfect starter memory game to play while your child is still quite young.

2. Kim’s Game – Show your child several items, cover them, and ask them to recall as many as possible. This game strengthens recall skills - the next step to the skills practised in What's Missing?

3. I Went to the Market – A classic memory game where each player adds an item to a list (e.g., “I went to the market and bought an apple… a banana… a cat…”). This improves working memory skills. If your child finds this game difficult at first, you can start by using objects, such as role play food to help them remember.

4. Pattern Copying – Arrange coloured blocks or buttons in a pattern, then mix it up and ask your child to recreate it from memory. This game enhances visual and spatial memory.

5. Story Recall – Read a short story and ask, “Can you remember what happened first? What happened next?” This game is perfect for early readers, as it develops auditory memory, and listening and attention.

5 Phonics-Focused Memory Games for Early Reading

6. Sound Snap! – Create pairs of cards with letters or CVC words. Flip them over and play like the traditional memory card game. This improves letter-sound association.

7. Silly Sound Sequences – Say 3-4 sounds (e.g., /s/ - /a/ - /t/) and ask your child to repeat them in order. Gradually increase difficulty, and don't forget to sound out alien words too! This game is great for strengthening phonemic memory.

8. Letter Hunt – Hide letter flashcards around the house and call out a sound. Your child then goes to hunt for the correct letter. Gradually build it up by asking for more sounds, for example 'Can you find the p, n and g?' This reinforces letter recognition and develops remembering sounds in the correct order.

9. Word Chain – Say a word, and the child must say a word that starts with the last sound of the previous word (e.g., cat → top → pan). A great game for building sound awareness!

10. Missing sounds - Use magnetic letters, or write down a word to sound out and blend together. Remove/hide one of the sounds in the word. Can your child remember which sound it is? The builds on those important segmenting and isolation of sounds skills!

How Often Should You Play These Games?

Daily memory practise, even for just 5-10 minutes a day, can make a huge difference in your child's reading progress. Consistent practise helps strengthen their working memory, which is key for remembering sounds, letters, and words. A great approach is to mix phonics-based games, like matching letter-sound cards, with general memory games, such as memory matching or 'I Spy' with objects or sounds. This variety keeps things engaging while building a well-rounded memory foundation. Starting these activities as early as 18 months lays the groundwork for reading success down the road, giving your child the tools they need to become confident, fluent readers.

If this daily phonics practise feels a little overwhelming, check out my Phonics at Home curriculum! Interactive phonics videos for every sound (Phase 2 to advanced Phase 5). You just have to press play!

In conclusion, automaticity is a crucial memory skill that lays the groundwork for reading fluency. Before children can read quickly and smoothly, they need to recognize sounds, letters, and words automatically without effort. By incorporating memory games into your child’s daily routine—even starting as early as 18 months—you can help them develop these essential skills. Early practice not only builds strong reading foundations but also sets your child on the path to becoming a confident and fluent reader.

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Check out more posts on The Little Reading Nest's blog below:

Why Kids Reverse Letters (b, d, p) and How to Fix It: 7 Proven Strategies for Parents

How Singing, Music, and Movement Supercharge Your Child’s Phonics Learning

How 'Alien Words' Boost Phonics Skills & Phonics Screening Check Success