A version of this blog appeared on ASHAWire/ASHA Leader Live from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association as “Encouraging Rhyming Skills,” Stephanie Sigal M.A. CCC-SLP, February 7, 2011.
Recognizing and generating rhymes is crucial to reading development, as it helps children recognize matching endings of words.
Make sure your child understands the beginning vs. ending of words and that the ends of words need to sound the same to create a rhyme.
Encourage Your Child’s Rhyming Skills
Once your child is familiar with a rhyming book or song, have them try to fill in the rhyming word. For example, Dr. Seuss’ The Foot Book begins: Left foot, Left foot, Right foot, Right – Feet in the morning, Feet at _____ (your child should say “night”). For a challenge, read an unfamiliar rhyming book or sing an unfamiliar song with your child in the same manner.
Rhyming Books to Start With
Down By the Bay by Raffi
The Lady with the Alligator Purse by Nadine Bernard Westcott
I Love Trucks by Philemon Sturges
Madeline by Ludwig Bemelmans
Subway by Anastasia Suen
Silly Sally by Audrey Wood
Hand, Hand, Fingers Thumb by Al Perkins
Summer by Alice Low
Barnyard Dance by Sandra Boynton
Bear Snores On by Karma Wilson
In a People House by Dr. Seuss
Marvin K. Mooney Will You Please Go Now! by Dr. Seuss
The Foot Book by Dr. Seuss
Hop On Pop by Dr. Seuss
One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish by Dr. Seuss
Rhyming Books to Try Later
Rhyming Dust Bunnies by Jan Thomas
The Gruffalo by Julia Donaldson
The Seven Silly Eaters by Mary Ann Hoberman
Chester Van Chime Who Forgot How to Rhyme by Avery Monsen
Ada Twist, Scientist by Andrea Beaty
The Cat in the Hat by Dr. Seuss
Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss
I Am Not Going To Get Up Today by Dr. Seuss
I Can Read With My Eyes Shut by Dr. Seuss
Sing Songs and Nursery Rhymes
As a challenge, alter the rhymes (e.g., Twinkle Twinkle Little Car).
Twinkle Twinkle Little Star
Row, Row, Row Your Boat
This Old Man
There was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly
Pat-A-Cake
Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes
Itsy Bitsy Spider
I’m a Little Teapot
Willoughby Wallaby Woo – Raffi rhymes names with real and nonsense words. Sing this song with your child, adding the names of family members and friends.
Rhyming Activities
- Play rhyming “I Spy” – I spy with my little eye, something that rhymes with bear
- Try a basic Rhyming Puzzle and a more challenging one, too
- Rhyming Rockets allows children to sort through a variety of rhyming words
Have fun rhyming!
If your child has difficulty with rhyming, or you have concerns about your child’s early reading, language, articulation, or kindergarten readiness skills, please contact me, Stephanie Sigal, speech-language therapist, at sayandplay@yahoo.com. I look forward to hearing from you.