How to Introduce CVC Words with Play

When your child starts recognising individual letter sounds, it’s an exciting step toward reading.

The next stage?

Blending those sounds together—and that’s where CVC (consonant-vowel-consonant) words come in.

Words like cat, dog, and sun are simple, phonetic, and confidence-building for early readers.

But here’s the secret to making this step successful and stress-free: introduce CVC words through play.

For parents and homeschoolers, turning learning into a joyful, hands-on experience isn’t just more fun—it’s more effective.

Here’s how to do it.

How to Introduce CVC Words with Play

Helping your child learn to read doesn’t have to mean sitting at a desk with flashcards.

In fact, it shouldn’t.

One of the most joyful and effective ways to introduce reading is through play—especially when it comes to those early, simple CVC (consonant-vowel-consonant) words like cat, hat, and sun.

For parents and homeschoolers, blending literacy into play-based learning builds confidence and keeps kids engaged and smiling.

What Are CVC Words?

CVC stands for consonant-vowel-consonant.

These are short, easy-to-sound-out words like mat, peg, lip, and bus.

They’re usually a child’s first experience blending individual letter sounds into real words.

These words are powerful for early reading because:

They follow a clear phonics pattern
They build confidence in decoding
They help children practise segmenting and blending sounds

Why Play Works for Teaching CVC Words

Young children learn best through play. When they’re laughing, moving, and using their senses, they’re engaged—and engagement fuels retention.

By integrating CVC word learning into games, storytelling, art, and sensory play, you’re nurturing literacy without making it feel like “schoolwork”.

7 Play-Based Ways to Teach CVC Words

Sound Hop with CVC Mats

Create or print CVC word mats (like the ones at CVC at Home).

Place letter cards or tiles around the mat.

Say a word (like dog) and have your child jump to each sound: /d/, /o/, /g/.

Then blend them together while jumping in sequence.

Skills: phonemic awareness, blending, gross motor coordination.

CVC Word Picture Match

Cut out pictures of CVC words and have your child match them to the correct word card.

For example, match a picture of a sun to the word “sun”.

Start with only a few choices, then build up.

Skills: word recognition, vocabulary, decoding.

Build-a-Word Craft Station

Use letter tiles, felt letters, or magnetic letters to build words on a board.

Choose a theme—like animals or transport—and build words like pig, bus, or hen.

Encourage your child to draw or craft the object after building the word.

Skills: spelling, fine motor skills, creative expression.

Sensory CVC Words

Fill a tray with salt, sand, or shaving cream and have your child write CVC words using their finger or a paintbrush.

You can call out a word or show a picture, and they can “write” it in the sensory tray.

Skills: letter formation, sound-letter correspondence, sensory integration.

Spin and Read

Make a simple spinner divided into vowels (a, e, i, o, u).

Have your child spin it, then choose two consonants to place before and after the vowel to make a word.

For example, s + a + t = sat.

Use mini whiteboards to write and read your new words together.

Skills: segmenting, blending, vowel recognition.

CVC Word Treasure Hunt

Hide word cards or letter tiles around the house or yard.

When your child finds a full CVC word (e.g. cap), they can read it aloud, draw it, or even act it out!

Skills: reading, movement, comprehension.

CVC Words with Picture Books

Choose picture books that contain a high frequency of CVC words and read them together.

Pause to sound out simple words with your child.

Then extend the experience with themed craft or play printables like those found at CVC at Home.

Skills: early reading, comprehension, literacy-rich play

Tips for Parents & Homeschoolers

Keep it short and playful. A few minutes of quality, focused play is more valuable than an hour of frustration.
Celebrate small wins. Every word sounded out correctly is a big step!
Use repetition. Revisiting the same activities or words in different play formats helps solidify learning.
Follow your child’s interests. If they love animals, build words like cat, dog, and hen. Let their interests lead the learning.