"The Ship is Loaded" Rhyming Game
To play the rhyming game, “The Ship is Loaded”, one person begins the game, by saying,
“The ship is loaded with cheese.”
The next person repeats the sentence and adds a word that rhymes with cheese.
“The ship is loaded with cheese and peas.”
Each person adds another word that rhymes with cheese while reciting the ever-longer sentence.
“The ship is loaded with cheese and peas and bees.”
This game ends when no one can think of another rhyming word.
You can then start again with a different word to rhyme, such as,
"The ship is loaded with logs."
Each person adds a word to the sentence that rhymes with “logs,” such as hogs, dogs, frogs, etc. until no one can think of another rhyming word.
"Clap and Count Words" Game
Start the game by saying a phrase or sentence.
Ask your child to repeat the phrase while clapping once for each word.
Repeat the phrase together, while counting the number of words.
"Clap and Count Syllables" Game
Similar to the Clap and Count Words game above, start the game by finding a word that you see while on the road. (seagull, sea-gull, seagull, exit, ex-it, exit)
Ask your child to repeat the word while clapping once for each syllable in the word.
Repeat the word together.
Next, have your child come up with a word. (motorcycle. mo-tor-cy-cle, motorcycle)
Bonus: Labeling what you see in your environment is a great way to build vocabulary and strengthen oral language skills as well.
Signs and License Plates- Find the Letters Game
Find a letter that begins with the same letters in your name. Mom's name is Kerry. Can you find a K. "I see it on that sign, license plate, etc..." This is a very good way to expose children to print awareness and for them to see letters present in different shapes and fonts.
Exercise your alphabet skills by finding letters in alphabetical order in environmental print.
"I see an A on that green license plate, I see a B on that Burger King sign, etc...."