This game can be spoken with no tools necessary. However, feel free to also use anything to write it down on any surface nearby (paper, whiteboard, footpath, sand).

One player begins with a short CVC word (find a list of these in the Download Vault) & the other player needs to change one sound to create a new word.

For example:

Me: “Change one in M-O-P, MOP”

You: “B-O-P, BOP”

Me: “Nice, you changed the /m/ sound to a /b/ sound!”

The fancy term for what is going on in this game is phonemic manipulation. It’s giving your kiddo the chance to play around with deleting & inserting sounds within words. It will improve a wide range of literacy skills (including spelling & reading).

It’s a great game because you can play one round or fifty rounds depending on the motivation levels of your kiddo. Not to mention there is no preparation required so you can play anywhere, anytime.

Kiddos often create a nonsense word as they become accustomed to this skill; it’s still good practice, just let them know, e.g. “yeah, MOP can be changed to MIP, but MIP is a nonsense word isn’t it?”.

Initially it may be easier for your kiddo if you segment the sounds in the word because they can more easily identify the seperate phonemes. e.g. say P-U-G rather than PUG.

Start by changing the first sound, then make the game harder by changing the last or middle sound.

Need to make the game different?

Try: Tell your kiddo what sound you want the letter changed to. e.g. “change the /s/ sound in SUN to a /f/ sound”

Try: Request which sound you want changed (first, middle, end). e.g. “change the last sound in P-E-T, PET”

Try: After your kiddo is mastering CVC words, try the same concept but with longer words (such as CCVC or CVCC words). e.g. “change the middle sound in SH-O-P, SHOP”