Prep: 5-10 Minutes / Activity Time: 8-10 Minutes

Many 5-year-olds can name words that rhyme when asked. Invite your child to show you what he knows about rhyme with this fun game. It will get your child moving and will help him to practice quickly identifying rhyming words.

  • objects or pictures of items that rhyme
    Examples: bat/hat; fish/dish; dog/frog; jar/car; cap/map; key/bee; bag/flag
  • outside space where a child can move freely and safely
  • jump rope

Step 1:  Gather three pairs of rhyming objects. For example you might choose:bat/hat; cap/map; bag/flag 

Step 2: Choose an object from each rhyming pair and place each one in a different spot outside. For example, place the bat by the tree, the cap next to the flowerbed and the bag under the mailbox. You should now have three objects left. (Example: hat, map, flag)  

Step 3: Form a circle on the ground with the jump rope. Name each of the remaining objects as you place them in the circle.

Step 4:  Call out a word that rhymes with one of the objects.You might say: "Look down on the ground and find something that rhymes with cat. What did you find? That’s right a hat!”

Step 5:  Tell your child that you will count to three, and then you want him to run and find something that rhymes with cat and hat. You might say: “Get ready! One, two, three...cat, hat. Find something that rhymes with hat!"

Step 6: Then, have him race around the yard to find the other object that rhymes and race back to the jump rope.

Step 7: Acknowledge your child for finding both objects that rhyme.

Continue playing with the remaining objects.

Step 1: Make it easier by using just two pairs of rhyming objects. For example, you might choose: bat/hat; cap/map 

Step 2: Choose an object from each rhyming pair and place each one in a different spot outside.For example, place the bat by the tree and the cap next to the flowerbed. You should now have two objects left. (Example: hat, map)  

Step 3: Form a circle on the ground with the jump rope. Name each of the remaining objects as you place them in the circle.

Step 4: Ask your child to pick up one of the objects and tell you its name. Then, have him race around the yard to find the other object that rhymes and race back to the jump rope. You could say: "What did you choose? You chose the hat! See if you can find something that rhymes with hat!"  

Step 5: Provide additional rhyming words to help your child hear the target sound. You could say: "Look for something that sounds like hat, mat, sat, cat, pat, and rat!"

Step 6: Acknowledge your child for finding the object that rhymes. (in this case, bat)  Have your child repeat the rhyming pair three times. “You found hat and bat. Say it with me: hat… bat    hat…bat    hat…bat”

Step 1:  Gather three pairs of rhyming objects.For example, you might choose: bat/hat; cap/map; bag/flag)  

Step 2: Choose an object from each rhyming pair and place each one in a different spot outside. For example, place the bat by the tree, the cap next to the flowerbed and the bag under the mailbox. You should now have three objects left. (Example: hat, map, flag)  

Step 3: Form a circle on the ground with the jump rope. Name each of the remaining objects as you place them in the circle.

Step 4: Call out a word that rhymes with one of the objects.You might say: " Look down on the ground and find something that rhymes with cat. What did you find? That’s right a hat!”

Step 5: Tell your child that you will count to three and then you want him to run and find something that rhymes with cat and hat.

You might say: “Get ready! One, two, three...cat, hat. Find something that rhymes with hat!" Ask your child to pick up the rhyming object and shout out its name. Then, have him race around the yard to find the other object that rhymes and race back to the jump rope.

Step 6: Acknowledge your child for finding and bringing you both objects that rhyme.

Step 7: To add some challenge: Invite your child to pick up the jump rope and jump as you take turns naming additional words that rhyme with this pair, until one of you cannot think of another word. Nonsense words count!

Example:

You say:

Your child says:

hat

bat

sat

that

wat

gnat

vat

zat