A properly structured phonics song built for genuine letter-sound teaching
Jack Hartmann's letter-s song teaches the actual sound, not just the alphabet name.
Jack Hartmann's channel is built for genuine early years teaching, and this letter-s song reflects that: it drills the actual phonetic sound rather than just singing through the alphabet, with clear repetition of s-words and a steady, teacherly pace throughout. It's suggestion-based rather than bossy despite the instructional tone, no pressure language, just a friendly invitation to join in. At just over two minutes it's tightly focused on one skill. This is squarely reception content, an eight-year-old who already knows their phonics will find it well beneath them.
At a glance
Will it actually calm them down?
Eases a wound-up mood back to settled.
A gentle lift on a flat, low-energy afternoon.
Steady enough for meltdown recovery.Scores measure how reliably this video moves a child toward a settled, regulated state. In the Piko app, kids tell us their weather and we do the matching automatically.
Which kids will love it?
Why it works
Genuine phonics instruction works best through repetition and clear sound isolation, exactly what this song does by returning to the s sound again and again in different words. The calm, structured pace suits a child who's ready to actively learn rather than just be entertained, without ever tipping into demand or pressure. It's most effective used little and often rather than as a one-off watch, phonics sticks through repeated, spaced exposure.
When to reach for it
- Early literacy practice A genuine phonics teaching tool built around one letter sound, ideal for reception-age repetition.
- Supporting school phonics lessons Useful reinforcement if your child is learning letter sounds in reception or year one.
- Short, focused learning breaks Brief and specific enough to slot into a two-minute gap without losing structure.
Sensory & SEN notes
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Questions parents ask
Does this video teach the letter name or the letter sound?
The actual phonetic sound, which is what children need for reading, not just the alphabet name.
Is this suitable for a child who already knows their phonics?
Not particularly, it's aimed at reception and early years literacy, and older children who've moved past this stage may find it too simple.
Is the instructional tone pushy or demanding for a young child?
No, it's suggestion-based and friendly throughout, there's no pressure language despite the clear teaching structure.
40+ checks per video, with a final pass from the review desk · Scored 20 July 2026 · We do not host videos; playback is via YouTube's official embed.