Rhyming is one of the simplest levels of phonemic awareness. Studies have shown that phonemic awareness may be a better predictor of reading success than I.Q. Therefore, the rhyming level is an important stepping stone to reading success. The following activities may help your child with rhyming:
Read books that are written in rhyme. (Dr. Seuss books are an excellent resource.)
Sing or recite nursery rhymes with your child. (Several eachnight before bedtime can become a family ritual.)
When reading books or reciting rhymes, pause and let your child complete the rhyme (i.e., Jack and Jill went up the _____ ).
Point out coincidental rhymes in daily conversation (e.g., "Will you get the ball by the wall? Hey, that rhymes - ball/wall!").
Jump rope and teach your child jump rope rhymes you sang in school.
Rhyming and Poetry Books
Hop on Pop, by Dr. Seuss
One Fish, Two, Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish, by Dr. Seuss
Bears in Pairs, by Niki Yektai
The Day the Goose Got Loose, by Reeve Lindbergh
The Real Mother Goose
Each Peach, Pear, Plum, by Janet Ahlberg
Old Black Fly, by Jim Aylesworth
Silly Sally, by Audrey Wood
Barnyard Banter, by Denise Fleming
Down by the Bay, by Raffi
Bam, Bam, Bam, by Eve Meriam
Going to Sleep on the Farm, by Wendy Lewison
Here are My Hands, by Bill Martin, Jr.
I Spy series
Various books by Iza Trapani
Various books by Ruth Heller
Poetry books by Jack Prelutsky