Rhyme Time
Look…a book…
…which might end up being what it took for you to continue the fun of Family Literacy Month.
Just like the Rhyming Dust Bunnies, Ed, Ned, Ted, and maybe especially Bob, I love to rhyme…all the time…I find it sublime…and a really great way to help children build up their reading skills.
Playing rhyming games with your family is an easy way to help younger children to get "Ready for Reading" and for older ones to find the joy in words. And because rhymes are "portable playthings" you really can play these games anytime and anywhere.
Rhyming games can be as simple as one person asking "What rhymes with car?" and everyone else calling out their answers or, with some paper and a pen or other materials, can be a more complex creation–your own rhyming board game. (Check out "Scholastic Paren'ts: Raise a Reader" blog for their suggestions on "The 3 Best Rhyme Games for Kids".)
Toronto Public Library's Ready for Reading Program highlights the importance of rhyme, most notably in the "Hearing Word" skill that speaks to the idea of listening for the smaller sounds in words to help children sound out the written word. And since "Play" is one of the Ready for Reading Skill-Building Practices, rhyming games really are a wonderful pre-literacy activity.
And rhymes aren't just for preschoolers. Older children should be encouraged to use rhyme as a way to explore language and have fun with their words. Rhyming games might even lead to participation in Poetry Slams or a publication in TPL's Young Voices.
So…is it time…are you ready to rhyme…I know I'm…and so are the Rhyming Dust Bunnies.
3 thoughts on “Rhyme Time”
Thanks for the link to the fun coloring activity sheet! Playing with language through rhyme is such a great way to build vocabulary. I love how you called rhymes “portable playthings”! Rhyme ttiime!
Have fun colouring in those Rhyming Dust Bunnies Suzanne! Did you know that once you’ve finished colouring them in, you could cut them out and tape them to popsicle sticks to make your own Dust Bunny puppets to rhyme along with?
That’s a great idea! I will definitely try that out 🙂