For sure success in life and school,

Words are a special, needed tool.

For talking, reading, and for fun,
Words are the way to get things done.

So how to teach this, what’s the way?
Use rhymes and word play every day.


He’ll have fun with you and learn something too!
Rhyming helps children to understand that words are made up of sounds and that words themselves can be silly and interesting. When you play rhyming games with your child, you help him to hear the patterns of sound within the words. Children need to be able to hear these patterns before they can connect letters with the sounds they stand for — that is, before they start reading and writing. Poems that have rhymes and rhythm capture children’s ears and hearts. And, when you enjoy playing with language, your child will, too.

Here are some ways to use rhymes every day.

With babies:

• Sing nursery rhymes or rhyming songs, such as the “Eency Weensy Spider” or “Ring Around the Rosie”, over and over again.
• Make up rhymes to the words you use every day. For example, when you are changing your baby’s diaper, say, “Now we’re going to change your diaper and I’m using a wiper to change your diaper … ”

With toddlers:

• Switch the name of a word by changing a single letter. Ask, “Who wants reans and bice [instead of beans and rice] for dinner?”
• Read poems and stories that rhyme. Dr. Seuss is an old favorite and master at rhymes and silly word games.

With preschoolers:

• String together words that rhyme. “Cat, hat, bat, sat, pat.” Say a word, then have your child say one that rhymes.
• Practice tongue twisters, like “Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers” or “Sally sells seashells by the seashore,” or make up your own.

Spending time with your child as you play with words will help him learn to love language. So whether your child is six, four, or two, rhyming and word games are great tools for you!

Special thanks to Nina Sazer O’Donnell, Bruce Murray, PhD, and Robert Needleman, MD, FAAP, for the generous donation of their valuable time and expertise in reviewing this edition of Bits of Understanding.

Civitas thanks Parents as Teachers, an international early childhood parent education and family support program, for their ongoing support. This Civitas tool was adapted for the Born Learning campaign.

© 2007 Civitas