-
Step 1
Start with simple rhyming books. A favorite, for example, is Jim Martin’s terrific “Black Bear, Black Bear, What do you see?” The answer, as you find out in the book is “I see a red bird staring at me.” Read the lines aloud, emphasizing the rhyming words at the end of each line. After reading the book multiple times, read the lines leaving off the last word—and allowing the child to fill in the missing words. Then you can say something like “Oh, you made a rhyme with “see” and “me. They both make an 'ee' sound."
-
Step 2
Play a game in the car. Say, for example, “ee, ee, ee.” Then say something like how "bee” sounds like “ee” and so does “knee.” Encourage the child to say “ee” and find rhyming words (or nonsense words—when you’re learning to rhyme).
-
Step 3
Repeat Steps 1 and 2 with other rhyming sounds, using various rhyming books. You might like to try using Dr. Seuss’s ABC’s where you would find “Big J, little j. What begins with J?" This is introducing the long “A” sound. Add that sound to your car game.
-
Step 4
Play this rhyming object game only after you’re sure the child has gotten the basic concept of rhyming. Place three objects in a small box and ask the child to take out the two that rhyme. Just add a non-rhyming object with each pair. Following are some common objects you might use.Pen/menSock/clockBowl/rollMouse/house (miniatures)Dog/frog (plastic animals)Cat/hatCar/star Pan/canShoe/two (numeral)
-
Step 5
Reinforce the concept through singing. “Twinkle, twinkle, little star/How I wonder what you are” works well as does “The eensy weensy spider went up the water spout. Down came the rain and washed the spider out.” Again, emphasize the rhyming words.
