• Objects or pictures of items that rhyme (examples: bat/hat, fish/dish, dog/frog, jar/car, cap/map, key/bee, bag/flag) 
• Outside space where a child can move freely and safely 
• Jump rope 

Step 1: Gather three pairs of rhyming objects. For example you might choose bat/hat, cap/map, bag/flag. 

Step 2: Choose an object from each rhyming pair and place each one in a different spot outside. For example, place the bat by a tree, the cap next to a flowerbed and the bag under a mailbox. You should now have three objects left (examples: hat, map, flag).  

Step 3: Form a circle on the ground with the jump rope. Name each of the remaining objects as you place them in the circle. 

Step 4: Call out a word that rhymes with one of the objects. You might say:  

“Look down on the ground and find something that rhymes with cat. What did you find? That’s right, a hat!” 

Step 5: Tell your child that you will count to three, and then you want him to run and find something that rhymes with cat and hat. You might say: 

“Get ready! One, two, three ... cat, hat. Find something that rhymes with hat!” 

Step 6: Then, have him race around the yard to find the other object that rhymes and race back to the jump rope. 

Step 7: Acknowledge your child for finding both objects that rhyme. 

Step 8: Continue playing with the remaining objects. 

Step 1: Make it easier by using just two pairs of rhyming objects. For example, you might choose bat/hat and cap/map.  

Step 2: Choose an object from each rhyming pair and place each one in a different spot outside. For example, place the bat by a tree and the cap next to a flowerbed. You should now have two objects left (examples: hat, map).  

Step 3: Form a circle on the ground with the jump rope. Name each of the remaining objects as you place them in the circle. 

Step 4: Ask your child to pick up one of the objects and tell you its name. Then, have him race around the yard to find the other object that rhymes and race back to the jump rope. You could say:  

“What did you choose? You chose the hat! See if you can find something that rhymes with hat!” 

Step 5: Provide additional rhyming words to help your child hear the target sound. You could say,  

“Look for something that sounds like hat, mat, sat, cat, pat and rat!” 

Step 6: Acknowledge your child for finding the object that rhymes. (In this case, it’s a bat.) Have your child repeat the rhyming pair three times.  

“You found hat and bat. Say it with me, ‘Hat … bat, hat … bat, hat … bat.’” 

Step 1: Gather three pairs of rhyming objects. For example, you might choose bat/hat, cap/map, bag/flag.  

Step 2: Choose an object from each rhyming pair and place each one in a different spot outside. For example, place the bat by a tree, the cap next to a flowerbed and the bag under a mailbox. You should now have three objects left (examples: hat, map, flag). 

Step 3: Form a circle on the ground with the jump rope. Name each of the remaining objects as you place them in the circle. 

Step 4: Call out a word that rhymes with one of the objects. You might say:  

“Look down on the ground and find something that rhymes with cat. What did you find? That’s right, a hat!” 

Step 5: Tell your child that you will count to three and then you want him to run and find something that rhymes with cat and hat. 

You might say:  

“Get ready! One, two, three ... cat, hat. Find something that rhymes with hat!” Ask your child to pick up the rhyming object and shout out its name. Then, have him race around the yard to find the other object that rhymes and race back to the jump rope. 

Step 6: Acknowledge your child for finding and bringing you both objects that rhyme. 

Step 7: To add some challenge: Invite your child to pick up the jump rope and jump as you take turns naming additional words that rhyme with this pair until one of you can’t think of another word. Nonsense words count! 

For example: 

You say: Your child says: 

hat bat 

sat that 

wat gnat 

vat zat