Jolly Phonics Picture Flashcards: 7 Powerful Ways To Teach Sounds Faster (Most Parents Don’t Know These Tricks)

Why Jolly Phonics Picture Flashcards Work So Well (And How To Make Them Even Better)

Jolly Phonics picture flashcards are amazing for helping kids connect sounds to images.

But here’s the problem no one talks about:

Kids forget.

You print the cards, use them a few times… and then they end up in a drawer.

That’s where a smart flashcard app like Flashrecall comes in.

You can turn your Jolly Phonics pictures into digital flashcards that:

• Remind your child to review at the perfect time
• Mix sounds so they’re not just memorising the order
• Work on iPhone and iPad, even offline
• Let you add audio, words, and extra examples

You can grab Flashrecall here (free to start):

👉 https://apps.apple.com/us/app/flashrecall-study-flashcards/id6746757085

Let’s go through how to use Jolly Phonics picture flashcards in a smarter, easier way — without drowning in laminated cards.

What Are Jolly Phonics Picture Flashcards, Really?

Jolly Phonics uses pictures + actions + sounds to teach kids phonics in a fun way.

The picture flashcards usually show:

• A picture (like a snake, ants, a mouse, etc.)
• A sound (like /s/, /a/, /m/)
• Sometimes a word or sentence

The goal is simple:

Your child sees the picture → remembers the action → says the sound.

That’s why picture flashcards are such a big part of Jolly Phonics.

But there are two big challenges:

1. You need repetition (lots of it).

2. You need variety so your child doesn’t just memorise the order of cards.

That’s where using an app like Flashrecall with your Jolly Phonics pictures becomes a game changer.

Why Go Digital With Jolly Phonics Picture Flashcards?

You don’t have to ditch your physical cards.

But turning them into digital flashcards gives you a ton of advantages.

1. You Can Reuse Any Jolly Phonics Resource Instantly

With Flashrecall, you can:

• Take a photo of any Jolly Phonics picture card, page, or worksheet
• Turn it into a flashcard in seconds
• Add the sound, word, or sentence on the back

Flashrecall can make cards from:

• Images (photos of your printed cards or books)
• Text
• Audio
• PDFs
• YouTube links
• Or you can type them manually if you want full control

So if you already own Jolly Phonics books or printables, you don’t need to buy new sets of cards. You just reuse what you have in a smarter way.

2. Built-In Spaced Repetition (So Your Kid Reviews at the Right Time)

Kids forget sounds if they don’t see them often enough.

Flashrecall has built-in spaced repetition:

• It automatically decides when to show each card again
• Easy sounds appear less often
• Tricky sounds appear more often
• You don’t have to track anything manually

Your child just opens the app and taps through the cards.

Flashrecall handles the schedule.

Plus, you get study reminders, so neither of you forget to practice.

3. Add Sound, Actions, and Extra Examples

Jolly Phonics is big on:

• Actions
• Songs
• Sound gestures

In Flashrecall, you can:

• Record your own voice saying the sound or word
• Add example words (e.g., “s – sun, snake, sock”)
• Type a simple cue like: “Do the snake action and say the sound”

This turns each picture card into a mini learning experience, not just a flash of an image.

7 Powerful Ways To Use Jolly Phonics Picture Flashcards With Flashrecall

1. Start With “One Sound, Many Pictures”

Instead of just one picture per sound, try this:

Pick the sound /s/ and add:

• A snake picture
• A sun
• A sock
• A sandwich

In Flashrecall:

• Front: picture (e.g., a sock)
• Back: “What sound? → /s/ (sock)”

This helps your child understand:

> “This sound can appear in lots of different words.”

You can create these cards super fast by:

• Grabbing images online
• Taking photos of objects around the house
• Snapping parts of Jolly Phonics worksheets

2. Use “What Sound Is This?” and “What Word Is This?” Cards

Mix up the direction of learning:

• Front: picture of an ant
• Back: “What sound? → /a/”

• Front: picture of a sun
• Back: “Say the word: sun. What sound does it start with? → /s/”

You can create both versions in Flashrecall and let spaced repetition handle the order.

This builds flexible phonics skills, not just memorised cards.

3. Group Sounds Into Mini Decks (So It’s Not Overwhelming)

Instead of dumping all 42 sounds at once, break them into small decks inside Flashrecall:

• Deck 1: s, a, t, i, p, n
• Deck 2: c/k, e, h, r, m, d
• Deck 3: g, o, u, l, f, b
• …and so on

You can:

• Start with one deck
• Let your child “master” it
• Then slowly add new decks

Flashrecall’s spaced repetition will still mix old and new sounds so your child keeps reviewing earlier ones without you having to remember.

4. Turn Blending Practice Into Flashcards

Once they know a few sounds, blending is the next step.

In Flashrecall, create cards like:

• Front: “s – a – t”
• Back: “What word? → sat (picture of someone sitting)”
• Front: “p – i – n”
• Back: “What word? → pin (picture of a pin)”

You can even:

• Put the picture on the front and ask your child to say the sounds and blend them
• Or put the sounds on the front and show the picture on the back as a reward

Again, Flashrecall will keep showing these at smart intervals.

5. Use Audio Cards for Kids Who Love Listening

Some kids respond better to sound than visuals.

In Flashrecall, you can:

• Record yourself saying a word: “sun”
• Front: audio only
• Back: “What’s the first sound? → /s/ (picture of a sun)”

Or:

• Front: audio of the sound “/s/”
• Back: “What letter? → s (picture of a snake)”

This is especially helpful for:

• Kids with reading difficulties
• Kids learning English as a second language
• Very young learners

6. Let Your Child “Chat With The Flashcard” When They’re Stuck

One of the coolest Flashrecall features:

You can chat with the flashcard.

So if your child (or you) are unsure about something, you can:

• Ask the app: “Give me more words that start with /s/ for kids”
• Or: “Explain this sound in simple words”

This is great when you’re not sure how to explain something on the spot, or you want more example words or sentences to use with that sound.

7. Keep It Fun With Short, Frequent Sessions

Because Flashrecall works offline on iPhone and iPad, you can:

• Do 3–5 minute sessions in the car, waiting rooms, or before bed
• Let your child “help you” tap through the cards
• Use picture-heavy decks so it feels like a game, not a test

The built-in active recall (showing the front and making your child think before revealing the answer) is exactly what helps them remember long term.

How Flashrecall Compares to Traditional Jolly Phonics Cards

You don’t have to pick one or the other.

But here’s the difference in practice:

Physical Jolly Phonics Picture Cards

• Tactile, hands-on
• Great for group activities
• No screens

• Easy to lose or damage
• Hard to track which sounds your child struggles with
• No automatic review schedule
• Takes time to shuffle, sort, and organise

Jolly Phonics + Flashrecall

With Flashrecall:

• You reuse all your existing Jolly Phonics materials
• You get automatic spaced repetition and study reminders
• Cards are always with you on your phone or iPad
• You can add audio, extra examples, and even chat with the card
• It’s free to start, fast, and super easy to use

Link again if you want to try it:

👉 https://apps.apple.com/us/app/flashrecall-study-flashcards/id6746757085

Simple Step‑By‑Step: How To Turn Jolly Phonics Pictures Into Flashrecall Cards

Here’s a quick setup you can do in 10–15 minutes.

Step 1: Download Flashrecall

Install it on your iPhone or iPad:

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/flashrecall-study-flashcards/id6746757085

Open it up and create a new deck called “Jolly Phonics – Set 1”.

Step 2: Add Your First Picture Cards

For each sound:

1. Tap to add a new card

2. Take a photo of the Jolly Phonics picture or draw your own

3. Put the picture on the front

4. On the back, type:

• The sound (e.g., `/s/`)
• The word (e.g., “snake”)
• Optional: a quick note like “Do the snake action and say /s/”

Repeat for a few sounds: s, a, t, i, p, n.

Step 3: Add Audio (Optional But Super Helpful)

For tricky sounds or new ones:

• Record yourself saying the sound
• Or record the whole word
• Add it to the back or front of the card

Now your child can hear the sound as well as see the picture.

Step 4: Let Spaced Repetition Do Its Thing

Once you have a small deck:

• Start a study session in Flashrecall
• Encourage your child to say the sound before flipping the card
• Flashrecall will automatically:
• Show easier sounds less often
• Show harder sounds more often
• Remind you to come back and review

No planning. No spreadsheets. Just tap and go.

Final Thoughts: Make Jolly Phonics Picture Flashcards Work For You

Jolly Phonics picture flashcards are already powerful.

But when you combine them with a smart app like Flashrecall, you get:

• Less prep time
• More consistent practice
• Better long-term memory
• A simple, fun routine for your child

You can still use your physical cards for games, sorting, and group work.

Just let Flashrecall handle the memory science in the background.

If you want to try it with your Jolly Phonics resources, you can grab Flashrecall here:

👉 https://apps.apple.com/us/app/flashrecall-study-flashcards/id6746757085

Turn those cute Jolly Phonics pictures into powerful, smart flashcards your kid will actually remember.

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the fastest way to create flashcards?

Manually typing cards works but takes time. Many students now use AI generators that turn notes into flashcards instantly. Flashrecall does this automatically from text, images, or PDFs.

Is there a free flashcard app?

Yes. Flashrecall is free and lets you create flashcards from images, text, prompts, audio, PDFs, and YouTube videos.

How do I start spaced repetition?

You can manually schedule your reviews, but most people use apps that automate this. Flashrecall uses built-in spaced repetition so you review cards at the perfect time.

Related Articles

• Jolly Phonics Picture Flashcards: 7 Powerful Ways To Help Kids Read Faster (Most Parents Don’t Know These Tricks) – Turn every sound and picture into a fun, unforgettable game your child actually wants to play.
• Vowel Flashcards: 7 Powerful Ways To Teach Reading Faster (Most Parents Don’t Know These Tricks)
• Jolly Phonics Flashcards: 7 Powerful Ways To Help Kids Read Faster (Most Parents Don’t Know These Tricks) – Turn phonics practice into a fun, super-effective game your child will actually ask to do.