Rhyming Basket Match Game

5 pairs of rhyming objects or pictures: sock/rock, toy car/star cutout, toy cat/hat, toy bug/mug, spoon/moon cutout

A basket or bowl

Gather 5 pairs of rhyming objects or pictures and place them in a basket.

Pull out one item: "Sock! What rhymes with sock?"

Search together for the match: "Rock! Sock and rock RHYME!"

Chant the pair, emphasizing the ending sound: "-ock, -ock, -ock!"

Continue finding all rhyming pairs.

Hold up each matched pair and chant the rhyme together.

Try making silly nonsense rhymes: "Sock, rock, bock, dock, fock!"

See if your child can think of more real words that rhyme with each pair.

Rhyming is one of the strongest predictors of reading success. Children who can recognize and produce rhymes have an easier time learning to decode words later. This game makes that foundational skill tangible and fun.

Real objects are more engaging than flashcards for this age. A child holding a real sock and a real rock makes a stronger memory connection than looking at pictures.

Nonsense words are not just funny — they're actually a sign of phonological sophistication. When a child invents "bock" to rhyme with "sock," they understand the sound pattern.

If you can't find real objects, draw simple pictures on index cards. The matching/pairing format works the same way.

Start with 3 pairs for younger children and work up to 5-6 pairs as they master the concept.