A toy-brick peek-a-boo game where preschool kids tap the moles holding a big B, a little b and pictures that start with B. Play online on any phone, tablet, Chromebook or computer.
A starry dot-to-dot game where preschool kids tap the stars with a big C, a little c and pictures that start with C. Play online on any phone, tablet, Chromebook or computer.
A balloon-popping party game where preschool kids pop a big D, a little d and pictures that start with D. Play online on any phone, tablet, Chromebook or computer.
A gem-cracking game where preschool kids tap the gems with a big G, a little g and pictures that start with G. Play online on any phone, tablet, Chromebook or computer.
A fishing game where preschool kids reel in a big F, a little f and pictures that start with F. Play online on any phone, tablet, Chromebook or computer.
A retro 8-bit space jet game where preschool kids blast a big J, a little j and pictures that start with J, then beat Bomzy. Play online on any phone, tablet, Chromebook or computer.
A helicopter rescue game where preschool kids tap a big H, a little h and pictures that start with H. Play online on any phone, tablet, Chromebook or computer.
A flashlight hunt game where preschool kids find a big L, a little l and pictures that start with L. Play online on any phone, tablet, Chromebook or computer.
A jungle monkey game where preschool kids tap the monkeys to find a big M, a little m and pictures that start with M. Play online on any phone, tablet, Chromebook or computer.
An outback adventure game where preschool kids find a big K, a little k and pictures that start with K. Play online on any phone, tablet, Chromebook or computer.
A kawaii kitten game where preschool kids tap the yarn ball with the big Y so the kitten can play with it, help a kitten pounce on the little y, and find the pictures that start with Y. Every right answer feeds a kitten a yum-yum treat. Play online on…
A zipline zoo game where preschool kids catch a big Z, a little z and pictures that start with Z, then tuck the wound-up Bomzies in for a nap in a bonus round. Play online on any phone, tablet, Chromebook or computer.
A castle fair archery game where preschool kids tap a target or pull back a bow to shoot a big Q, a little q and pictures that start with Q. Play online on any phone, tablet, Chromebook or computer.
A star-catching game where preschool kids catch a big N, a little n and pictures that start with N. Play online on any phone, tablet, Chromebook or computer.
A taco truck game where preschool kids find the shell with a big T, a little t and pictures that start with T. Play online on any phone, tablet, Chromebook or computer.
An ice cream shop adventure game where preschool kids find a big S, a little s and pictures that start with S. Play online on any phone, tablet, Chromebook or computer.
A pirate treasure adventure game where preschool kids find a big X, a little x and pictures with the letter X. Play online on any phone, tablet, Chromebook or computer.
A puzzle game where preschool kids fit pieces with a big P, a little p and pictures that start with P. Play online on any phone, tablet, Chromebook or computer.
A felt-board farm game where preschool kids get water from the well with the big W, load wood into the wagon with the little w, and look out the farmhouse window for pictures that start with W. Play online on any phone, tablet, Chromebook or computer.
A rainy-day toy-brick game where preschool kids make it rain on a big R so it grows, find a rabbit hiding behind the little r rock, and make the R animals do a robot dance. Play online on any phone, tablet, Chromebook or computer.
What sound does it start with?
Hearing the first sound in a word is one of the biggest steps toward reading, and preschoolers practice it every day. They listen to a word like ball and say the sound they hear first: /b/. Then they match pictures that start the same way, like ball, bat and bus. Over time, they connect each sound to its letter. Names are a perfect place to start, since every child loves their own first sound. The click moment is when a child says, "Sun and Sam start the same! /s/!"
Little ones learn beginning sounds by listening, looking and playing. These moves are simple and fun.
Post a picture word wall for the letter of the week at kid height. Point and say each word together, stretching the first sound: "Bbbbear." Then ask kids to find something in the room that starts the same.
Why it works: children learn more from words and pictures together than from words alone (Mayer, 2009).
Try it withBeginning Sound Letter B Word WallFlash CardsOpen it →Lay out picture cards and letter cards face up. Kids pick a picture, say its first sound and find the matching letter. Start with just three letters and add more as they grow.
Why it works: playful practice with a clear goal keeps kids practicing longer, and simple learning games have been shown to build real skills (Ramani and Siegler, 2008).
Try it withAlphabet Picture Match Flash CardsFlash CardsOpen it →Use a short letter game to focus on a single sound at a time. Say the sound together each round so little ears keep hearing it clearly.
Why it works: the National Reading Panel found that systematic, explicit phonics teaching clearly improves how children learn to read.
Try it withLetter C GameGamesOpen it →Beginning sound games preschoolers love.
ActivitiesMatch animals to their beginning sound. "Cow starts with /k/!"
Open Beginning Sounds Animal Activity →
WorksheetsColor the sea creatures that start with the same sound.
Open Under the Sea Beginning Sounds Worksheet →
ActivitiesMatch letters to pictures and say the sound out loud each time.
Open Alphabet Match Activity →Teacher favorites right now: Letter B Game, Letter C Game and Letter D Game.
Many children start hearing beginning sounds around ages 3 to 5. It develops with lots of playful practice, so don't worry if it takes time.
Play "I spy something that starts with /m/." Stretch the first sound when you say words and let your child guess. A few minutes a day is plenty.
Both are useful, but for reading, the sound matters most. Try saying them together: "B says /b/."
Say the word again slowly, stretching the first sound, and let them try again. Watching your mouth helps too. Keep it light and fun.
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