The Great Boat Float: Teaching Rhyming to Preschoolers

A little while ago I was playing a rhyming game with my little one when I realized he really wasn’t grasping the concept of rhyming. I tried a different game, and low and behold, he wasn’t grasping it that way either. Teaching rhyming to preschoolers isn’t always easy!

How could this be?! I thought for sure we had this rhyming thing down! I write all about the importance of it in my book for goodness sake! It is the very first of the seven skills little ones need for reading readiness. It seems we had taken a step back somehow.

This can happen, I know, as these little ones are learning new skills and new sounds concepts can be forgotten or confused.

No need to panic. (that was self-talk which followed my brief panic.)

So we played more with songs and poems and rhyming books.  And all on his own, this rhyming thing started to click once again.  He has started to point out rhymes all on his own – and make some himself too.  So I thought I would try another rhyming activity.

This rhyming activity for my preschooler started out with a rhyming walk.  We were going to do it outside, but it was so so chilly that we decided inside the warm house would do just fine.

Thank goodness.

Our rhyming walk started by me saying a word – like “log” and my little guy walking around the house – and literally stepping over our dog – to find a rhyming word … which he did: “frog”.  This was truthfully a fun and meaningful activity just like this! But just as we were doing this activity …

Madeline was learning to make an origami boat.  This was the youtube video she used (if you happen to be feeling crafty!)

And wouldn’t you know – she asked aloud – I wonder if this boat will actually float?  Well, my little one heard that from a mile away and came in congratulating Madeline on her rhyme.  The boat did float – and frog decided to go for a ride.  And so the Great Boat Float was created. Teaching rhyming to preschoolers is so fun!

My preschooler would hunt for a rhyme to a word I gave him … which now had to be small enough to fit in this paper boat.  And if he was successful – he would put that thing into the boat for a float.  Side Note: this boat really held up very well!!!!

We had a great time with this rhyming activity – and it kept the kids entertained for quite a long while.  And then they played in the sink full of water – which was arguably just as much fun.

I am so happy that I didn’t panic (or at least I didn’t panic for long) and decided to give my little one the time he needed to be able to understand rhyming.

It is hard for me sometimes to stand back and accept that my kids may not be learning some things at the same rate as others – or even be … gulp .. behind.  But when given the time he needed, and the extra time to play with rhymes, it came all on it’s own … no frustration for him or for me.

So now – as you might have guessed – we are hearing rhymes from this little preschooler day in and day out!  And it is lovely to hear – even when he rhymes Mom with Bum …

Thank you so much for reading friends. I hope you have a lovely week!

 

 

 

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