The Preschooler

Hop on Syllables

Syllables can be a tricky concept for young children to grasp.  They are still learning to master one-to-one correspondence, and listening for something you are not able to touch can be very difficult.  Here is a game that requires on chalk and an open space outside, and yet it helps children see, hear, and even move to the syllables in a word.

Begin by writing the word, “Start” on a sidewalk, driveway or other paved area.  Then, draw a series of circles, ending with the word, “Finish”.   They can be in a straight line or, if there is room, they can twist and turn all over the place, as long as you can walk from the Start to the Finish.  The last step in preparation is optional.  If you would like to make a set of game cards, simply gather pictures of items your child will recognize that also have various numbers of syllables, such as bat, pizza, octopus, and watermelon.  You can also choose to write a list of words or simply come up with the words on the fly.

Have your child stand at the start and let her choose a word or announce a word to her.  Help her figure out how many syllables are in the word.  However many syllables are in the word, that is how many hops she takes down the game board.  Play continues until she reaches the finish! 

This can also be played with more than one player, but it adds an element of competition and you also need to have the game cards rather than simply yelling out words.

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Written by Laura on July 25, 2011