Rhyme and rhythm involves the child being able to hear and identify similar word patterns. Rhyming words sound the same at the end. For example “hat” and “cat” rhyme because they have the “at” sound at the end.  Do these words rhyme?  Man – tan (yes),  fun – mat (no). Which word does not rhyme? Man, fan, pat (pat).

Children benefit from hearing songs, rhymes and rhythmic language. Help your young children learn nursery rhymes. Say them, chant them, and sing them.

 Listen to the nursery rhyme “Hickory, Dickory, Dock.”  

Hickory, Dickory, Dock

The mouse ran up the clock.

The clock struck one.

The mouse ran down.

Hickory, Dickory, Dock

What word rhymes with Hickory? (Dickory) What word rhymes with Dock? (Clock)

Below are some activities to try with your child to develop rhyme and rhythm:

• Sing or say nursery rhymes and songs with your child.
• Make up your own rhymes with your child.
• Play word games – “How many words can you say that rhyme with fox? Bill?
• Read a favorite story – ask child to listen for words that begin with the same sounds as a word in the story. For example, “Name some words that begin the same as Goldilocks? Have your child repeat tongue twisters: Sam’s silly snake slept in the sun.