Are you truly starting with those words for a 5-year-old? Curious why? Hands down, teaching phonics is far and away the fastest route to being able to decode

Are you truly starting with those words for a 5-year-old? Curious why? Hands down, teaching phonics is far and away the fastest route to being able to decode words. Similarly, reading to your kids is the fastest way to get them interested in reading. Using the motivation to learn to get going on the phonics is more than adequate to teach reading. And don't expect things outside of spelling/reading to be any more "logical." Try explaining the rules of any sport in a way that isn't dominated by the exceptions.