Did you know that being able to rhyme words is one of the best predictors of reading success? So a super kindergarten readiness activity is practicing words that rhyme. All the Christmas songs we hear everywhere are perfect for doing just that. Had a very shiny nose, what rhymes with nose? grows, toes, froze, bows. How about night? light, bright, out o’sight. Try some other words: hat, sleigh, cold, snow, wrap, halls, red, books, pack, tree, bell, etc. whenever you and your child hear them. Sing some of the songs that your child knows and substitute a word that doesn’t rhyme. You will quickly be “corrected” by your munchkin. Who knows, you may come up with a whole new song while you are having fun as well as promoting an important skill.
Children learn to identify and create words that rhyme at different ages, but for all children word games are an early resource for playing with language and for playing with other people, too. The humor is often very silly (Jingle bells, Batman smells, etc ) but it does show the ability to rhyme. So Deck the Halls with rhymes and other word games. Does this give you another reason to enjoy the season?