I Want a Rhyme
Say, “I want a rhyme in mighty quick time, and the word I choose is…red!” See how many words your child can come up with that rhyme with red. Since the purpose of this game is to develop your child’s ear for rhyme, nonsense words count too. Play several rounds or take turns prompting each other for rhymes. Begin with short, simple words. Here are some suggestions.
I want a rhyme in a mighty quick time, and the word I choose is…hat.
I want a rhyme in a mighty quick time, and the word I choose is…moon.
I want a rhyme in a mighty quick time, and the word I choose is…look.
I want a rhyme in a mighty quick time, and the word I choose is…tree.
Feed the Bear
In this game, you will challenge your child to come up with words that all begin with the same beginning sound.
1. Say: “If I caught a bear I’d feed him carrots.” Be sure to emphasize the sound /c/ at the beginning of carrots.
2. Ask: “What sound do you hear at the start of carrots?”
3. Ask: “What else could feed the bear that begins with the sound /c/?” Challenge your child to come up with as many words that begin with that sound as he can.
If your child struggles to come up with a word, repeat the beginning sound and feel free to give hints. It is fine if your child thinks of items that begin with that sound but are not food items. This will make the game sillier, yet it still focuses on beginning sounds.
Here are some examples to get you started.
pizza (popcorn, pudding, potatoes, peas, pineapple, pumpkin, pickle, peppers)
sandwich (sausage, salsa, soup, spaghetti, salad)
carrots (candy, corn, cantaloupe, crab, cream cheese, cranberries)
I Spy
Begin by saying “I spy with my little eye something that begins with the sound…” and fill in a particular beginning sound. Then your child looks around for things that begin with that sound and tries to guess what it is you see. For example, “I s[y with my little eye something that beginning with /n/” (for net). If your child gets stuck you can provide clues to help out.
Simon Says
Choose one beginning sound to start with, such as /j/. Tell your child that you are going to play Simon Says. You will say “Simon Says…” and then an action (for example, Simon says…jump!”). If the action begins with the sound /j/, they would do it. If it begins with a different sound, they should not. So, for example, your child would jump but not skip. You can also have your child act out things-for example, when you say “Simon says snake,” your child could wriggle like a snake.
Say, “I want a rhyme in mighty quick time, and the word I choose is…red!” See how many words your child can come up with that rhyme with red. Since the purpose of this game is to develop your child’s ear for rhyme, nonsense words count too. Play several rounds or take turns prompting each other for rhymes. Begin with short, simple words. Here are some suggestions.
I want a rhyme in a mighty quick time, and the word I choose is…hat.
I want a rhyme in a mighty quick time, and the word I choose is…moon.
I want a rhyme in a mighty quick time, and the word I choose is…look.
I want a rhyme in a mighty quick time, and the word I choose is…tree.
Feed the Bear
In this game, you will challenge your child to come up with words that all begin with the same beginning sound.
1. Say: “If I caught a bear I’d feed him carrots.” Be sure to emphasize the sound /c/ at the beginning of carrots.
2. Ask: “What sound do you hear at the start of carrots?”
3. Ask: “What else could feed the bear that begins with the sound /c/?” Challenge your child to come up with as many words that begin with that sound as he can.
If your child struggles to come up with a word, repeat the beginning sound and feel free to give hints. It is fine if your child thinks of items that begin with that sound but are not food items. This will make the game sillier, yet it still focuses on beginning sounds.
Here are some examples to get you started.
pizza (popcorn, pudding, potatoes, peas, pineapple, pumpkin, pickle, peppers)
sandwich (sausage, salsa, soup, spaghetti, salad)
carrots (candy, corn, cantaloupe, crab, cream cheese, cranberries)
I Spy
Begin by saying “I spy with my little eye something that begins with the sound…” and fill in a particular beginning sound. Then your child looks around for things that begin with that sound and tries to guess what it is you see. For example, “I s[y with my little eye something that beginning with /n/” (for net). If your child gets stuck you can provide clues to help out.
Simon Says
Choose one beginning sound to start with, such as /j/. Tell your child that you are going to play Simon Says. You will say “Simon Says…” and then an action (for example, Simon says…jump!”). If the action begins with the sound /j/, they would do it. If it begins with a different sound, they should not. So, for example, your child would jump but not skip. You can also have your child act out things-for example, when you say “Simon says snake,” your child could wriggle like a snake.