Rhyming and word games for kids

Kind turns first

Agree a few friendly rules before you begin. Everyone gets a turn, and everyone listens while someone else is speaking. Nobody is forced to speak, and a child may always say “pass”, whisper to a grown-up, point or just listen. Made-up and silly words are welcome, and nobody laughs at a word, only with the person who said it. These games work in any language, so use the words your family speaks most comfortably. Age hints are only a guide, so you know your child best.

1. Rhyme chain

Age hint: 5 and up.

Bring: nothing at all.

1. Someone says a short word, such as “cat” or “star”.
2. The next person says a word that sounds like the end of it, real or made up, such as “hat” or “zat”.
3. Keep going round until the chain runs out of sounds, then smile and start with a new word.
4. If a turn feels hard, the player may pass or ask the group for a hint.

Try this: In your home language, rhyming may work differently. Use whatever sounds alike to your ears, including the ends of words in songs you know.

2. I-spy sounds

Age hint: 4 and up.

Bring: a room or a view with plenty of things in it.

1. The spy picks something they can see and says, “I spy with my little eye something that starts with mmm.” Say the sound, not the letter name.
2. Others take turns guessing, naming real things they can see.
3. The spy may give a second clue, such as the colour or where it is.
4. Whoever guesses becomes the next spy, or the spy can choose someone to go next.

Try this: Play it in any language. The spy can use the first sound of the word in whichever language they know the thing by. Our listening games cover sounds in the room around you.

3. What's in my bag?

Age hint: 4 and up.

Bring: only your imagination. No real bag or objects are needed.

1. The first player thinks of something that could be in an imaginary bag and keeps it secret.
2. They give clues in words only: “It is round. It is sweet. You peel it.”
3. The others guess, one guess each, until someone finds the word.
4. The guesser picks the next secret word for the bag.

Try this: Clues can be sounds, sizes or feelings, not only looks. The memory games use a real tray of things to recall, while here the whole game happens in words.

4. Silly-sentence swap

Age hint: 4 and up.

Bring: a sentence everyone knows, such as “The dog ran to the park.”

1. Say the sentence together, clearly.
2. Take turns swapping one word for a silly one, for example “The dog flew to the moon.”
3. Say the new sentence aloud, and let the group giggle kindly.
4. Swap another word, and see how far the sentence travels from where it began.

Try this: Mix languages if you like, swapping in a word from home. For made-up tales with a beginning, middle and end, try our storytelling games. This one stays with a single sentence.

5. Opposites game

Age hint: 4 and up.

Bring: nothing at all.

1. One player says a word, such as “hot”, “up” or “big”.
2. The next player says its opposite, such as “cold”, “down” or “small”.
3. Swap roles after each pair, so everyone gets to ask and answer.
4. If a word has more than one opposite, celebrate every answer. “Big” can be “small” or “tiny”.

Try this: Say the pair in two languages if your family speaks more than one. A child who knows the word at home can be the expert.

6. The slow word

Age hint: 3 and up.

Bring: your hands, to stretch like a rubber band.

1. Pick an easy word, such as “moon”, “banana” or a favourite name.
2. Say it very slowly while pulling your hands apart, as though stretching a rubber band: “mmmooooon”.
3. Let it snap back and say it at normal speed.
4. Others copy the stretch, then take turns choosing the next word.

Try this: Slow words are gentle and tongue-twister free. If you want fast, tricky sounds instead, see tongue twisters for kids.

Keeping it light

Five or ten minutes is plenty, so stop while everyone is still smiling. Praise the playing rather than the answer, and let made-up words stay. If someone is tired or shy, a quiet listening role is a real part of the game. Repeat a favourite as often as you like, since every round comes out differently.

More to do on Rangooo

Enjoy more word games, read short poems for kids, solve riddles, pass time on a trip with travel games, plan a family game night, browse more stories and activities, or see resources for teachers.

Questions

What age are spoken word games good for?

Most of these games suit ages four to nine, played with a grown-up. The slow word suits ages three and up, the rhyme chain suits five and up, and the rest start at four. You know your child best, so adjust as you go.

What if my child does not want to speak?

Nobody has to take a turn. A child can pass, point, whisper to a grown-up who then says it aloud, or simply listen. Try again another day without any pressure.

Can we play in our home language?

Yes. Every game works in any language, and mixing languages is welcome. Rhymes, sounds and opposites turn up in many languages, so use the words your family knows and enjoys. A child can teach the group a word from home.

What if we cannot think of a rhyme?

Made-up words count, because the fun is in the sound. If the chain stalls, a grown-up can offer a hint or the group can start a new chain with a fresh word. Nobody is out and nobody is wrong.