Beginning Sound Scavenger Hunt Game

A bag or basket for collecting items

Paper and pencil for drawing items too big to collect (optional)

Camera or phone for photos (optional)

Choose a letter and emphasize its sound: "Today we hunt for /b/! Buh, buh, buh!"

Give your child a collection bag and walk through the house.

Point to a ball: "/b/... ball! Starts with B! In the bag!"

Let them search each room. Give hints when needed.

Photograph or draw items too big to collect.

Dump the bag and review: "Ball, book, banana, button, bear — all start with /b/!"

Do a new letter tomorrow. Cover five sounds by week's end.

Focus on the letter SOUND, not the letter NAME. "B says /b/" is more useful for reading than "B is called bee."

Start with consonants that have clear, consistent sounds: B, D, F, M, N, P, S, T.

Avoid tricky letters early on: C (cat vs. city), G (go vs. giraffe), X, Q.

If your child grabs an object that doesn't match, say the word slowly and emphasize the first sound: "Cup... /k/... that starts with C, not B. Good try!"

Take the hunt outside for more variety. Nature provides different objects than the house.