Word Games

I have written before about the importance of phonological awareness in learning to read and write.  It really is important for children to learn those pesky beginning sounds as well as the other sounds in words.  Having an "awareness" of which words begin the same or differently gives a child an advantage when they start school.

One of the easiest and most fun things to do is to teach your child tongue twisters.  Not only does it make your child aware of the beginning sounds of words but it introduces him/her to alliteration.   Alliteration is a literary stylistic device children learn in school typically when they study poetry.

Here are a few common ones:

She sells sea-shells down by the sea-shore

Peter Piper Picked a Peck of Pickled Peppers

Here are a few fun things to do with tongue twisters/alliteration in addition to just saying the common ones.

Have your child make up an alliteration sentence with the beginning letter of his//her name.

Parker parks penguins at the playground.

Zoey zips zippers at the zoo.

Lola likes lemon lollipops.

As you drive around or when you are at the grocery store, notice brands that use alliteration:

• Dunkin’ Donuts
• Best Buy
• Coca-Cola
• American Airlines
• Chuckee Cheese’s
• Bed Bath & Beyond
• Krispy Kreme

What about characters?  Are their names alliteration?

• Mickey Mouse
• Porky Pig
• Fred Flintstone
• Donald Duck
• Spongebob Squarepants

Once children are made aware of alliteration they love thinking of new ones.  

Give it a go!   You and your kids will laugh trying to say them quickly.