Rhyming Race

By Claudea Blythe

The best part about playing outdoors is the wide open space there is to run. Preschooler's love to run and what better way to get them to use those little legs than with a race! Rhyming Race gets preschooler's hearts pumping using a fun word match instead of the usual "ready, set, go!" This is a great game for a group of children or just you and your preschooler.

What You Will Need

A wide open area for the preschoolers to run

Something to mark a starting line

How To Play

1. Have the preschooler's stand next to each other behind the starting line. 

2. Choose a leader. The leader should be an adult or a preschooler who understands rhyming.

3. The leader will then call out two words. 

4. If the words don't rhyme then the children don't move. If the two words match e.g. "tree, free" then the children can race to a designated space and then back to the starting line to win.

Benefits Of The Game

Rhyming Race is a game that has a variety of benefits for your preschooler. It sharpens listening skills and helps with beginning recognition of rhyming words, which can be critical in early reading. Your preschooler will not only enjoy the opportunity to be outdoors participating in a fun activity, but also getting exercise. In addition to the obvious benefits of fun and exercise, your preschooler will have the opportunity to experience sportsmanship etiquette. Rhyming Race is a game that will result in a winner and a loser. This is a great opportunity to talk to your preschooler about the prospect of losing. Preschoolers can sometimes take losing hard, talking to him/her about losing graciously can help.

Make It More Challenging

Older Preschoolers may find Rhyming Race to be a little more fun by adding to the number of rhyming words that are used. For Instance, using two rhyming words the first race, three rhyming words the next race and so on.

Whichever way you decide to play Rhyming Race with your preschooler, it's sure to be a hit! 

.

---

Like this article? Get more like it in your inbox. Subscribe today to our free weekly newsletter.