Kindergarten Reading Games and Activities

Types of Reading Games and Activities for Kindergarteners

In kindergarten, kids are just beginning to get into reading, so it may be beneficial to move slowly and provide frequent practice outside of the classroom. There are several types of reading activities and games that you can try to help your son or daughter improve reading ability, comprehension and speed.

You may choose to create your own activities, print practice worksheets or allow your child to play games online. Common kindergarten reading topics include rhyming, vowel sounds and pronouncing single-syllable words. To get started, talk to your child's teacher about what is being covered in the classroom so that you're better able to select appropriate exercises.

Three Kindergarten Reading Activities

Exploring the Alphabet

Writing out words can help kids learn proper spelling and increase their familiarity with common terms. For this activity, your child will attempt to find words that begin with every letter of the alphabet. To start, provide your child a list with all 26 letters in the first column, blank lines in the second column and white space in the third.

Let your child investigate and explore the house for items that begin with each letter, labeling them on the lines in the second column. Once complete, your son or daughter can draw each of the items in the blank space in the third column. Many kids enjoy coloring and this portion of the exercise can help make learning more fun.

Sight Word Bingo

One skill that kindergarten students practice is recognizing sight words, which are words they can read without sounding out. One way to reinforce the connection between the written words and sounds of the words is through Bingo. Create a Bingo card with sight words, such as 'he,' 'is,' 'the,' 'my' and 'can.' As you call out the words, your son or daughter will mark them on the playing card, and five in a row wins.

Rhyming Memory

Another activity that can help kindergarteners improve their reading is the classic game Memory. Create the game pieces out of index cards before playing, or you can let your child create them to get some extra practice writing the words. Instead of having the words match, use simple rhyming words that your child will be able to recognize. For example, 'cat' and 'hat' will be a match. 'Book' and 'cook' are also a match. You can alternate turns with your son or daughter, turning over two cards at a time. If the words rhyme, they are a match and can be collected for points.