5 Fun Literacy and Reading Games Your Child will Love

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Most parents are keenly aware of the importance of literacy in their child's life. “It's the foundation for doing well at school, socialising with others, developing independence, managing money and working,” says the Raising Children Network.
But what about the importance of making it fun? According to the National Literacy Trust, “Play lays the foundation for literacy. Through play children learn to make and practise new sounds. They try out new vocabulary, on their own or with friends, and exercise their imagination through storytelling.”
Play naturally encourages learning, so it's a great way to get your children involved with basic literacy principles in a way that feels organic and effortless. Sometimes a simple game is all the spark you need to get your children involved.
Play can help your children to develop skills like phonics, phonemic awareness, vocabulary, reading comprehension and fluency – the five basic components of reading. You'll find that a little dash of fun goes a long way towards arming your children with the skills they need to talk, read and write.
And it doesn't have to be overly complicated either; sometimes just a simple five‑minute game is all you need to get those little minds working. Below are some fun and engaging literacy games you can try with your kids today.
Top five literacy games to try at home:
Reading games don't have to be overcomplicated or boring. Let's have a look at five simple games you can start playing with minimal to no resources – best of all, your kids will love playing them!
1. I Spy
A tried and true game that's been keeping children around the world occupied for centuries, this one is an oldie but a goodie. Simply pick an object and describe it by using the first letter of the object or the colour. For example, “I spy with my little eye, something that begins with the letter S.” Or, “I spy, with my little eye, something green.” You can start by working your way through the alphabet or the colours of the rainbow.
Other talking games to try:
2. Take turns reading
This sounds quite simple, but alternating reading pages or paragraphs with your child can help keep them engaged in the story line in addition to helping them expand their vocabulary and learn how to pronounce new words.
Other reading games to try:
3. Write out a grocery list
This is a great way to get your child involved in a weekly activity and show them a practical application for writing. Ask your child to help you write down your grocery list as you go through the fridge and the cupboards, then have them to read it aloud to you at the store.
Other writing/spelling games to try:
4. Plan a scavenger hunt
Compile a small list of simple items for your child to photograph and/or collect such as a flower, a stick, or dirt. Meeting in a backyard or a local park, give your child a specific time limit and have them report back with the items they've found.
Other outdoor reading games to try:
For more inspiration for outdoor reading games, check out 5 Outdoor Games that Build Kids' Literacy.
5. Play a DIY literacy game
Do it yourself games require a tiny bit more effort but are generally hassle free as long as you have your child's spelling or vocabulary list handy. If not, you can always look online for age appropriate lists.
Enjoy hundreds of online reading games in Reading Eggs for free!

Online reading games can make learning fun and highly effective: Reading Eggs and Reading Eggspress include hundreds of highly interactive literacy games for children aged 2–13. Free trial

Online reading games can make learning fun and highly effective: Reading Eggs and Reading Eggspress include hundreds of highly interactive literacy games for children aged 2–13. Free trial
Explore hundreds of online literacy games in the multi-award winning Reading Eggs program, which includes Reading Eggspress for children aged 7–13. Both programs cover all aspects of literacy instruction from phonics to phonemic awareness, vocabulary, fluency and reading comprehension.
It only takes a few minutes to get started, and your child can begin to develop an early love for reading from the comfort of your own home.
Try Reading Eggs here to see how your child's reading and comprehension skills can improve in just weeks.