5 Fun Games That Help Kids Learn to Read - Teach Your Child to Read

Learning to read can be an exciting journey for children, especially when it involves fun and engaging activities. By incorporating games into your child's reading routine, you can help them build essential literacy skills while having a blast. In this blog post, we'll explore five games that are not only enjoyable but also educational, designed to promote reading comprehension, vocabulary, and phonics.

1. Word Bingo:
   
   
   Bingo is a classic game that can be easily adapted to help kids learn to read. Create bingo cards with sight words or vocabulary words your child is learning. As you call out the words, your child can mark them on their card. The first to get a bingo wins a small prize or gets to pick the next game.
   
   

2. Sight Word / Tricky Word Memory:
   
   
   This game is a variation of the classic memory game. Create pairs of cards, with each pair containing a sight word your child is learning. Mix up the cards, then lay them out face down. Your child will take turns flipping over two cards at a time, trying to find matches. When they find a match, have them read the word aloud.
   
   

3. Reading Relay:
   
   
   Divide your child's reading material into shorter sections, such as paragraphs or pages. Set up a relay course in your home or backyard, with each section of the reading material at a different station. When you say "go," your child will run to the first station, read the section, then run back to you and summarise what they read. Once they've summarised the section, they can move on to the next station. The first to finish reading the entire passage wins.
   
   

4. Phonics Hopscotch:
   
   
   Create a hopscotch grid using chalk on your driveway or sidewalk/pavement. Instead of numbers, write letters or phonetic sounds in each square. When your child hops on a square, they must say the sound or letter aloud. If they can't think of the sound or letter, they must hop back to the start and try again. The first to complete the hopscotch course without making a mistake wins.

5. Story Cubes:
   
   
   Story cubes are dice with pictures on each side. Roll the cubes and have your child create a story using the pictures that come up. This game helps improve reading comprehension, as well as storytelling skills.

These games are just a starting point for incorporating fun and educational activities into your child's reading routine. Remember, the key is to make learning enjoyable and to celebrate your child's progress. With a little creativity and a lot of fun, you can help your child develop a love for reading that will last a lifetime.