Early Literacy Game: Rhyme Challenge

Go head to head with your kiddo in this week’s fun early literacy game. For this one, the game will be easier if you have a timer.

Like all of the games we highlight here, you can adapt this one to your child’s ability level as they progress.

Rhyme Challenge

Ability level: pre-reader

Directions: In this fun and challenging game, you and your child will take turns rhyming as many words as you can in a minute. The first person begins by saying: “I challenge you to think of as many words as you can that rhyme with the word __________.” Then the countdown begins! In one minute, how many words can the rhymer come up with? Once you tally the words and the minute is up, it’s time to switch roles. Put a minute back on the clock and let the challenge begin with a new word!

Some easier words to start with: bag, ball, day, bat, fly, nose, bike, mop, cup, box, rake, pan, car, train, pink, goat, sit, pig, night, flash, and bee.

Benefits: Rhyming words like this is one great way for your child to begin to understand onsets and rimes to hear similar vowel sounds in a group of words. (Here are some great picture card games that get into explaining and learning the onset and rimes, too.)

This game comes from the Scholastic Rhyme Game for Kids.

Be sure to follow along to catch the next game. In the meantime, have fun! If you would like more information about other fun early literacy games, check out sightwords.com.