5 Fun & Easy Ways to Help Your Kids Master CVC Words
Plus FREE Blending Mat download
If your little one is just starting to read CVC (consonant-vowel-consonant) words then
in this post you will find 5 fun and easy activities to help your child practice CVC words through play. These ideas are hands-on, low-prep, and actually work!
And don’t forget to download the blending mat for FREE at the end of this post.
Activity #1 Build & Read with clothespins and Craft sticks
This hands-on activity using clothespins and craft sticks is a fun way to build and read CVC words. Kids can easily change the beginning sound to form new words, helping them understand how letters work together to make sounds. It’s also a great way to sneak in some fine motor practice as they clip and unclip the clothespins. Simple, effective, and play-based—just the way learning should be!
Activity #2 DIY CVC Flip books
DIY CVC flip books are a powerful tool to help kids decode and blend sounds with ease. Each flip lets them change the beginning sound while keeping the ending pattern the same—building confidence as they read one word after another. Create flip books for different word families (-at, -an, -ig, etc.) and watch your child light up as reading starts to make sense!
Activity #3 Decode and Read
Grab a simple spoon and turn it into a playful reading tool! Write different beginning sounds on the paper and ending sound on the spoon. As your child moves the spoon, they create new CVC words and read them aloud. It’s a fun, hands-on way to practice blending sounds—and perfect for little learners who love movement and discovery.
Activity #4 Tap , blend and Read with Magna Tiles
Turn Magna-Tiles into a fun phonics tool! Write one sound on each square tile, and have your child tap each triangle tile as they say the sounds—then blend them together to read the full word. It’s a simple, engaging way to build strong phonemic awareness and early reading skills—all through play.
Activity #5 Sensory Blending Mat
This sensory blending mat turns reading into a hands-on adventure! Kids say each sound as they squish the playdough, then blend them together to read the word aloud. It’s the perfect mix of movement, touch, and sound—making early reading both fun and sensory experience.
