Top 19 Early Literacy Games to do With Your Preschooler for a Kindergarten Head Start in 2025
Is your little one gearing up for the big leap into kindergarten in 2025? It's a time filled with excitement, anticipation, and maybe a tiny bit of parental anxiety. You want to give them the best possible start, to ensure they walk into that classroom feeling confident, curious, and ready to learn. But how do you do that without overwhelming them with flashcards and formal lessons? The secret is simple, powerful, and incredibly fun: play.
Play is the language of childhood and the most effective engine for learning. When it comes to literacy, turning foundational skills into games transforms what could be a chore into a joyful adventure. These aren't just time-fillers; they are carefully designed activities that build crucial pre-reading skills like phonological awareness, alphabet knowledge, and print concepts. By engaging in these playful learning moments, you’re not just teaching your child the ABCs; you’re nurturing a lifelong love for reading and language.
So, put away the worksheets and get ready to laugh, create, and connect. Here are 19 of my absolute favorite early literacy games to give your preschooler a fantastic head start for kindergarten. These are the activities that build brains, create bonds, and make learning an unforgettable part of your everyday routine.
1. I Spy... With a Phonological Twist!
This isn't your average road-trip "I Spy." Instead of focusing on colors, we're tuning our ears into the sounds of language. This simple tweak transforms a classic game into a powerful tool for developing phonological awareness—the ability to hear and manipulate the sounds in spoken words, which is a critical pre-reading skill.
Start by saying, "I spy with my little eye, something that starts with the /m/ sound." It's important to use the sound the letter makes (like "mmm") rather than its name ("em"). Your child will then look around for objects like a mop, a mat, or a mug. This game directly teaches them to isolate beginning sounds, the first step in decoding words.
Pro-Tip: Keep it light and fun! If they guess a word that starts with a different sound, gently correct them. "Ooh, 'chair' is a great guess! That starts with the /ch/ sound. Can you find something that starts with the /m/ sound?" As they get better, you can advance to ending sounds or even rhyming words ("I spy something that rhymes with 'cat'").
2. The Rhyming Basket
Rhyming is a cornerstone of early literacy. It helps children notice patterns and similarities in the way words sound, which makes it easier for them to predict and read new words later on. The Rhyming Basket turns this concept into a hands-on sorting activity.
Find a small basket or box. Start by placing one object inside, like a toy car. Then, ask your child to go on a hunt around the house for other things that rhyme with "car." They might find a star-shaped block or a picture of a jar. The goal is to fill the basket with rhyming objects.
Pro-Tip: You can start new rhyming baskets each day with a different object. Some fun ones include block/sock, ball/doll, and bug/rug. Don’t worry if the rhymes aren't perfect; the act of listening for similar sounds is what builds the skill.
3. Syllable Clapping
Understanding that words are made up of smaller parts (syllables) helps children break down longer words when they start reading. Syllable Clapping makes this abstract concept physical and rhythmic, which is perfect for active preschoolers.
Simply say a word and clap out the "beats" or syllables together. Start with their name ("Ma-son," clap-clap), family members ("Grand-ma," clap-clap), and familiar objects ("ba-na-na," clap-clap-clap). You can turn it into a call-and-response game where you say the word, and they do the clapping.
Pro-Tip: Make it a part of your daily routine. Clap the names of foods at dinnertime, the toys you're playing with, or the characters in a book you're reading. You can even stomp, tap, or jump the syllables to get their whole body involved in the learning.
4. Sound Scavenger Hunt
This is an active game that gets kids moving while they learn. Similar to the "I Spy" twist, this game focuses on identifying the initial sounds of words, but with the added excitement of a scavenger hunt.
Give your child a letter sound, like /s/. Their mission is to run around the room (or the whole house!) and find as many objects as they can that start with that sound. They might bring you a spoon, a sock, a stuffed animal, and a storybook. Celebrate each find with enthusiasm!
Pro-Tip: For visual learners, you can give them a flashcard of the letter "S" to carry with them on their hunt. This helps them connect the sound /s/ with the symbol 'S'. This is a fantastic activity for a rainy day to burn off some energy.
5. Alliteration Action Sentences
Alliteration—where words that start with the same sound are used close together—is naturally fun for kids to say and hear. Creating silly alliterative sentences helps them further hone their ability to recognize and produce specific sounds.
Start a sentence and have your child help you finish it. For example, you could say, "Bouncing bunnies..." and they might add, "...bought blue balloons!" The sillier, the better. The goal isn't to make perfect sense but to have fun playing with sounds.
Pro-Tip: Use your child's name and interests to make it personal. "Daring Daniel dug deeply," or "Super Sophia sang six silly songs." This not only builds literacy skills but also gives their self-esteem a little boost.
6. Alphabet Soup Sensory Bin
Sensory play is a fantastic way for children to learn. An Alphabet Soup bin combines tactile exploration with letter recognition in a way that feels like pure play.
Fill a large container with water, dried beans, or colored rice. Add a set of plastic or foam alphabet letters and some scoops, ladles, and bowls. As your child "cooks" their soup, they can scoop out letters. Encourage them to name the letters they find. "Oh, you found an 'A'! What sound does 'A' make?"
Pro-Tip: Level up the game by asking them to find the letters in their name or to find the letter that makes the /b/ sound. You can also hide magnetic letters in sand or cornmeal for a different sensory experience.
7. DIY Letter Flashcard Match-up
Store-bought flashcards are great, but creating your own adds a layer of ownership and fun. This game is perfect for helping children distinguish between uppercase and lowercase letters, a skill they’ll definitely need for kindergarten.
On a set of index cards, write all the uppercase letters. On a second set, write the lowercase letters. Mix them up and spread them out on the floor. Your child's task is to find the matching pairs (A and a, B and b, etc.).
Pro-Tip: Start with just 5-6 familiar pairs of letters, like those in your child's name, to avoid overwhelming them. As they master those, gradually introduce more. You can also turn this into a memory game by placing the cards face down.
8. Shaving Cream Letter Practice
Many preschoolers are still developing the fine motor skills needed for holding a pencil. Pre-writing activities like this one let them practice letter formation using large muscles and a fun, tactile medium.
Squirt a small pile of shaving cream (the cheap foam kind works best) onto a baking sheet or directly onto a clean tabletop. Show your child how to use their finger to draw letters, shapes, and lines in the cream. You can call out a letter for them to "write" or let them explore freely.
Pro--Tip: This is a multisensory experience—they see the letter, feel the motion of forming it, and smell the shaving cream. For a less messy alternative, you can use a shallow tray filled with sand, salt, or sugar.
9. Parking Lot Letters
If you have a little one who loves cars, this game will be an instant hit. It cleverly combines their passion with letter recognition and matching.
Take a large piece of poster board and draw about 10-15 "parking spots." In each spot, write an uppercase letter. Then, use small stickers or a marker to write the corresponding lowercase letters on top of their toy cars. The game is to "park" each car in the correct matching spot.
Pro-Tip: You can call out a letter sound and have them drive the correct car to its spot. "Vroom, vroom! Can you park the /t/ car in the 'T' parking spot?" This reinforces letter-sound correspondence.
10. Letter Fishing Game
This game is fantastic for developing both letter recognition and hand-eye coordination. It’s easy to make and provides hours of educational fun.
You'll need a set of magnetic letters, a small bucket, a dowel rod, a piece of string, and a small magnet. Tie the magnet to the string and the string to the dowel to create a "fishing rod." Place the letters in the bucket (the "pond"). Your child can then "fish" for letters. Each time they catch one, they have to name it.
Pro-Tip: As they get more advanced, you can ask them to fish for a specific letter or for all the letters needed to spell a simple word like their name or "mom."
11. Storytelling Stones
Building narrative skills—the ability to tell a story with a beginning, middle, and end—is a huge part of literacy. Storytelling stones are a wonderful, screen-free tool to spark imagination and practice these skills.
Gather a handful of smooth, flat stones. On each one, draw or paint a simple picture: a sun, a house, a dog, a flower, a key, a boat. Place the stones in a bag. Have your child pull out 3-4 stones and arrange them in a line. Their job is to tell a story that includes all the objects in the order they were placed.
Pro-Tip: You can tell a story first to model how it's done. Emphasize transition words like "First...", "Then...", and "Finally..." to help them structure their narratives. Here at the Goh Ling Yong blog, we love activities that boost both creativity and language.
12. Environmental Print Hunt
The world is filled with words! "Environmental print" refers to the letters and words we see every day on signs, logos, and packaging. Pointing this out helps children understand that print has meaning and is all around them.
Turn your next trip to the grocery store or a walk around the neighborhood into a print hunt. "Can you find a sign with a big red 'S' on it?" (like a Stop sign). "Look, the cereal box has the same first letter as your name!" This shows them that letters aren't just in books.
Pro-Tip: Create a simple photo album or scrapbook of the environmental print you find. Your child can help you take pictures of signs and logos, and you can label them together. This reinforces the idea that print is a valuable source of information.
13. "What Happens Next?" Reading Game
Reading comprehension isn't just about understanding what's written on the page; it's also about thinking critically about the story. This simple game, played during read-aloud time, encourages your child to make predictions, a key comprehension skill.
While reading a familiar or new book, pause at an exciting or pivotal moment. Ask your child, "What do you think will happen next?" Listen to their ideas and ask them why they think that. There's no right or wrong answer; the goal is to get them thinking about the story's progression.
Pro-Tip: Use picture clues to help them. "The wolf is huffing and puffing at the little pig's house. Look at his face! What do you think he's going to do next?" This teaches them to use illustrations to support their understanding.
14. The "Author and Illustrator" Game
One of the best ways to understand how books work is to make one yourself! This activity demystifies the book-making process and gives your child a huge sense of accomplishment.
Simply staple a few pieces of paper together to create a blank book. Tell your child that they get to be the "author" (the one who writes the story) and the "illustrator" (the one who draws the pictures). They can dictate a simple story to you, which you write down, and then they can draw the pictures to match.
Pro-Tip: Start with a very simple, one-sentence-per-page story. For example: "The dog is big. The dog can run. I love the dog." Don't forget to have them design a cover and write their name as the author and illustrator!
15. Follow the Recipe
Following a recipe involves sequencing, listening to directions, and seeing print in a practical context. A simple, no-bake recipe is a perfect and delicious way to practice these early literacy skills.
Choose something easy like "ants on a log" (celery, cream cheese, and raisins) or a fruit salad. Write or draw the steps on a large piece of paper (e.g., 1. Wash celery. 2. Spread cream cheese. 3. Add raisins.). Read each step aloud and have your child help you complete it.
Pro-Tip: This is a fantastic way to introduce new vocabulary words like "spread," "mix," "measure," and "chop" (with a kid-safe knife, of course). The tasty reward at the end is great motivation!
16. Opposites Charades
A strong vocabulary is the foundation upon which all reading is built. This active game helps children learn the meaning of opposite words (antonyms) in a fun, physical way.
Write down pairs of opposites on slips of paper (hot/cold, big/small, fast/slow, happy/sad). Pull one out and act it out without speaking. For example, for "big," you might stretch your arms out wide. For "slow," you could walk in slow motion. Have your child guess the word and then act out its opposite.
Pro-Tip: Use dramatic voices and exaggerated movements to make it even more fun. This game not only builds vocabulary but also enhances their understanding of descriptive language.
17. The Question Jar
Conversational skills are a vital part of language development. The Question Jar is a simple tool to spark interesting conversations that go beyond "How was your day?"
Decorate a jar and fill it with simple, open-ended questions written on slips of paper. For example: "If you could have any superpower, what would it be?", "What is your favorite sound?", or "Tell me about a time you felt really happy." During dinner or before bed, have your child pull a question from the jar for everyone to answer.
Pro-Tip: This is a wonderful way to practice listening skills, taking turns, and expressing ideas clearly. As a parent and advocate for early education, I, Goh Ling Yong, find these simple rituals can have a profound impact on a child's confidence and communication skills.
18. Show and Tell at Home
"Show and Tell" is a classroom staple for a reason: it helps children practice organizing their thoughts and speaking in front of others. You can easily replicate this at home to build their oral language skills.
Once a week, have a designated "Show and Tell" time. Let your child choose a favorite toy, a drawing, or an object they found outside. Their job is to "present" it to the family, describing what it is, where they got it, and why it's special to them.
Pro-Tip: Model how to ask good questions after their presentation, such as "What does it feel like?" or "What's your favorite thing to do with it?" This teaches them to elaborate and add detail to their descriptions.
19. Mystery Bag
This is a classic sensory game that builds descriptive vocabulary and questioning skills. All you need is a non-see-through bag and a few interesting objects.
Place a familiar object in the bag without your child seeing it (e.g., a key, a crayon, a small ball, a leaf). Have them reach their hand inside without peeking and describe what they feel. Is it hard or soft? Bumpy or smooth? Big or little? Encourage them to use as many descriptive words as they can before they guess what it is.
Pro-Tip: Take turns! Let your child choose an object to put in the bag for you to guess. This empowers them and allows them to be the "teacher," which is a role most preschoolers absolutely love.
Preparing your child for kindergarten doesn't have to be stressful. By weaving these playful, powerful early literacy games into your daily life, you are giving them the most important gift of all: the confidence and curiosity to become a successful, happy learner. Remember, consistency is more important than intensity. A few minutes of playful learning each day will build a strong foundation for their 2025 kindergarten adventure and beyond.
You are your child's first and most important teacher. Embrace the giggles, the silly sentences, and the joy of discovery. You've got this!
Which of these games are you most excited to try with your preschooler? Do you have any other favorite learning activities? Share your thoughts and ideas in the comments below!
About the Author
Goh Ling Yong is a content creator and digital strategist sharing insights across various topics. Connect and follow for more content:
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