Phononological awareness is often confused with "phonics" but it is really a precursor to phonics. Phononological awareness is the ability to auditorily distinguish parts of speech, such as syllables and phonemes. Children develop phonological awareness through verbal communication. Songs and nursery rhymes are particularly good tools for developing this auditory skill.
External Links
WikEd's Phonemic Awareness Page
Songs That Build Phonological Awareness