Reading aloud to children from a young age not only encourages them to become lifelong readers, but also helps establish pre-reading skills such as sound and letter recognition, rhyming, alliteration, spelling, and book parts and features. When you read aloud, children can follow along and begin to recognize how letters work together to create words and words work together to create stories. Explore some of these foundational pre-reading skills with these activities, crafts, and games.
Letters and Sounds
When children are "pre-readers," they often pick up clues about reading from their environment and the people around them. This means that parents and caregivers are already helping their kids learn to read! For preschoolers, incorporate learning about letters, sounds, and words into fun activities, like mazes. Below are some simple activities to help your child grow as a reader.
Solve an A-maze-ing Letter Maze
30 min activityHelp your child practice letter recognition by following this fun tape maze.
Snip, Snip! Cut and Paste Sight Words
Making a cut-and-paste sight words collage is an easy way for your child to practice sight or spelling words.
Identify Letters Written With a Fingertip
This quiet activity is an easy way to calm your child at the end of a long school day.
Find the Beginning Letter Sounds
This simple card game is a fun, easy way to teach your child letter sounds.
Twinkle Twinkle Letter Stars
Create constellations in your home and teach alphabet skills - at the same time!
Practice Learning Letters With a Mystery Letter Bag Game
Play this game with your child to learn about letters in a mysterious way!
Play Doggie Detective to Learn Letters
Your child can search for toy puppies while working on their letter identification skills.
“Dig” for Dinosaur Letters
Tap into your child's curiosity by creating an alphabet dinosaur "dig" in your own home.
Trace Words on the Sidewalk
Help your child learn to spell her name or other words in this outdoor literacy activity.
Rhyming, Spelling, and Early Reading
As children get better at reading, they start to recognize more words and use strategies like re-reading to help them understand what they read. Try reading both fiction and non-fiction books on topics that interest your child, like dinosaurs or space. Children may also like to play word games together! For example, in this obstacle course activity, kids will actively engage in alphabetizing and rhyming while completing an obstacle course in your house or backyard.
Create a Literacy Obstacle Course
In this obstacle course, kids will engage in alphabetizing, rhyming, spelling, and movement.
Stomp Words to Build Literacy
This word building stomp game is a simple way to teach spelling, takes only minutes to make and gets your child thinking and moving.
Bake Gingerbread Letters
It’s time to take the ABCs to the k-i-t-c-h-e-n! Make gingerbread cookies in the shape of the alphabet with this simply delicious activity.
Craft a Secret Message Card
Your spy kid can practice math, spelling and writing skills while creating a secret message for a loved one!
Practice Early Reading and Writing Skills With Rhyming Puzzle Pairs
Games, challenges, and puzzles are a hee-hawesome way to build emerging reading and writing skills while having creative fun with rhymes!
Play I Spy With a Rhyming Twist
Use this new twist to a classic game and develop your child’s rhyming skills!
Games
Letter Dance Party
In this game, your child can practice letter recognition and dance with Big Bird and Snuffy.
Super Why's Super Duper Word Find!
Will your child help Super Why find these words?
Grover's Rhyme Time
Grover is driving a train of rhyming words. Your child can help Grover drive the train and collect the items he needs to fill the rhyming train cars.
Alpha Pig's Paint By Letter
Alpha Pig is painting pictures. Your child can practice recognizing printed uppercase and lowercase letters to help Alpha Pig finish painting his picture.
Abby's Sandbox Search
Abby is digging in her magical sandbox. Using a magic shovel, your child can help Abby uncover items that start with the letter shown on the sand bucket.
Princess Presto's Spectacular Spelling Play
Princess Presto needs your child's help in deciding what uppercase and lowercase letters make certain letter sounds to spell words.
Read More
Learning to Read with Super Why’s Comic Book Adventures
Unlock the magic of reading! Explore phonics with the new “Super Why’s Comic Book Adventures” show, which helps kids learn letters through action-packed stories and fun songs.
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“Read” Illustrations to Improve Literacy Skills
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Help Your Preschooler Get Ready to Read
Learn how to help your child build a strong foundation for reading success.
9 Early Literacy Activities For Kids
Here are some reading and writing activities that take little paper or prep and can fill your home with letters, sounds and word fun.
How to Start Playing On-the-Go Literacy Games
Find simple games that don’t require any materials — so you can play them anywhere!