Rhyme Time: Simple Ways to Build Early Phonics Through Rhyming Play – Week 8

There’s More to Rhyme Than Just Rhythm

Rhyme isn’t just fun or cute or a nice bedtime read—it’s also a brilliant tool for phonics.

Turns out, rhyme helps children:

• Hear and recognise patterns in words
• Tune into different sounds
• Predict what might come next in a sentence
• Strengthen memory and vocabulary

Basically, it’s doing all sorts of useful behind-the-scenes work to support early reading.
Who knew? (Well, maybe some people knew. But still. Exciting.)

And honestly, it makes us laugh too, doesn’t it?

• What is Rhyme in Phonics?
• Why Rhyme Matters for Early Reading
• 5 Fun Rhyming Activities to Try at Home
• Free Phonics Activity Worksheet
• Greetings from Grace
• Week 9’s Preview
• FAQs

Intro

If your child loves silly rhymes, made-up songs, or books like The Gruffalo, you’re in exactly the right place.

Rhyming play isn’t just for giggles — it’s a core part of phonics. In fact, Aspect 4 of Phase 1 phonics focuses entirely on helping children hear, enjoy, and play with rhythm and rhyme in language.

And guess what? It doesn’t take much to get started — just a little time, your voice, and a few everyday items.

Why Rhyme and Rhythm Matter in Phonics

Rhyming helps children:

• Hear how words sound and fit together
• Spot patterns in language
• Predict what comes next in stories and songs
• Break words into syllables and beats
• Prepare for blending and segmenting later on

When children can hear and play with word patterns, they’re building the skills they’ll need to sound out and read words independently.

Rhyming Books = Big Wins

Think of some of the most loved children’s books—they rhyme!

• Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?
• Chicka Chicka Boom Boom
• The Gruffalo
• Giraffes Can’t Dance
• The Going to Bed Book

There’s a reason these books are reread, memorised, and adored. They’ve got rhythm. They’ve got fun. They’re catchy. And all of that supports early reading in ways that stick.

Want to see what children’s books are trending right now?
Try this link to Amazon’s Bestsellers Book List for Early Learning

👉 Amazon’s Bestsellers Book List for Early Learning

Shall We Put It Into Practice?

This week, we’re leaning into rhyming activities to help strengthen your child’s sound awareness—and to make things feel playful.

No need for perfect rhymes. Just have a go.
Laugh at the silly ones.
Celebrate the ones that almost rhyme.
And enjoy watching your child tune in, giggle, and maybe even surprise you.

Need some rhyme time inspiration? Try the BookTrust’s Rhyme Time Resources for a rhyming extravaganza!

And this week, we’re sharing 5 easy ways to enjoy rhyme and rhythm at home — no planning, pressure, or poetry degree required.

5 Rhyming Activities to Try at Home

1. Rhyme Time Basket

Collect a few rhyming pairs of objects (or pictures):
🧦 Sock – rock
🐸 Frog – log
🐱 Cat – hat
🧁 Cake – snake

Let your child match the rhyming pairs and say the words aloud.

🟣 Tip: You don’t need real items — cut out pictures or draw simple doodles together or download our ready made Rhyme Match Snap! Worksheets where we’ve done the work for you!

2. Finish the Rhyme Game

Say a familiar rhyme but pause before the last word:
🎵 “Twinkle, twinkle, little… [pause]”
🎵 “Humpty Dumpty sat on a… [pause]”

Let your child finish the rhyme, then say it again together.

🟣 Try this: Make up silly endings and laugh at the nonsense — “Twinkle, twinkle, little… sandwich?”

3. Rhyme Hunt Around the House

Pick a sound and look for things that rhyme (or almost rhyme) with it:
“What can we find that rhymes with ‘chair’? Bear? Pear? Hair?”

🟣 Variation: Do it in the car, garden, or bath for a fun change of scenery.

4. Clap the Beat

Pick a favourite nursery rhyme and clap along with each beat. Try:

• Row, Row, Row Your Boat
• The Grand Old Duke of York
• Hickory Dickory Dock

🟣 Why it works: Clapping helps children feel the rhythm and syllables in words — a key step in later reading fluency.

5. Rhyme Sorting Game

Print or draw a mix of rhyming and non-rhyming words or pictures. Ask:
“Do these two rhyme or not?”

🟣 Example: Dog–log ✔️ / Dog–car ❌
You can also turn it into a simple matching game.

Download Our Free Rhyme Match Snap! Activity Worksheets

Want a rhyming game that’s ready to go?

📥 Download our Rhyme Match Snap! Activity Worksheets
👉 [Click here to see what’s included and download]

Hiya! Grace here.
And this week, we’re talking about something I really love…

Rhyme.

Now, just in case you thought I was joking, let me prove it:

“When a child learns how to read
They receive a mighty treasure
For the knowledge they can gain
Holds a value we can’t measure”

Written by yours truly—me, Grace—on 12 August 2021.
(Check the HHW Instagram if you’re into receipts.)

And here’s another little sneak peek:

“Up so high, they see it all.
Lions, monkeys, big and small.

Rhinos, hippos by a lake.
Trees so tall, they must be fake.

Huge and bumpy crocodiles,
All with massive toothy smiles.”

Also me. From a picture book I’m working on. (More on that another time 😉)

So yes, I like rhyme. A lot.

It’s like music that makes you dance—in written form.
And who doesn’t like music that makes you dance?

I don’t know about you, but when I was helping my son learn to read, I wanted to use every possible tool to make the process smoother—and hopefully more fun.

And if rhyme makes the story more engaging?
High five for rhyme.

Coming Up Next Week…

Next week, we’ll explore alliteration — when words start with the same sound (like slippery slugs slither silently). It’s a fun, silly way to build sound awareness and vocabulary.

🟡 Read next: [Week 9 – Silly Sound Games: Try Alliteration Play for Early Reading Skills]

FAQs

Is rhyme part of phonics?
Yes — in Phase 1 phonics, rhyme and rhythm are key listening skills that prepare children for blending and segmenting words later.

What age do children learn about rhyming?
Most children begin noticing and enjoying rhyme between ages 3–5, though some may pick it up earlier or later.

How can I help my child who struggles with rhyming?
Keep it playful — use silly rhymes, read rhyming books daily, and celebrate close attempts (“dog–bog” still shows awareness).

Which books are best for teaching rhyme?
Classics like The Gruffalo, Room on the Broom, Brown Bear, Brown Bear, and Chicka Chicka Boom Boom are great starting points.

If this post made phonics feel a little easier to understand… Subscribe to our weekly blog series to get phonics activity ideas sent straight to your inbox.

If you found this post helpful, send it to a friend with a 3-5 year old.