Word sounds
Kindergarten · English
Explore words, build sentences and share your ideas.
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Sound swap
Change one sound to make a new word. A free Kindergarten English phonics game with spoken words, sound tiles and printable practice.
Play Sound swap
Learning about word sounds
In this Kindergarten english collection, you can practice Sound swap. Choose a game above for a short activity, or explore the examples below before you play. The full guide for each game explains its controls, gives more examples and includes a free printable for practice away from the screen.
Talk it through
Read the example together before playing independently. Ask your child to explain a choice and try a new example afterwards. Match the task to what your child has already learned; grade suggestions are a starting point.
Ask: “Which part of the word or sentence helped you?” Give your child time to explain. Return to an example after playing and ask whether they would approach it differently.
Sound swap
Sound swap explores how changing one sound changes a word. Children begin with a printed word, listen to a new word and replace just the highlighted tile. Each normal game draws six changes from a pool of ten. Examples include cat to cap, cap to cup, cup to pup and dog to log. Pick first, middle or last sound for a focused practice session.
Try an example: Change cat into cap.
The first two sounds stay the same. Replace the final t with p.
Show the answer
cap
What to look out for
Reading only the starting word. Tap Listen to hear the target word; the task is to make that new word.
Practice away from the screen
- Play alongside your child and choose words using correspondences already taught at school.
Curriculum connections
Sound swap
Supports part of Common Core RF.K.2.e through a small set of familiar words. Uses British-English whole-word audio; teachers can model their local pronunciation.
Common Core connection: RF.K.2.e. This is focused practice for part of the standard.
Questions families ask
Where should we start with word sounds?
Start with Sound swap. Look at the worked example together, then try a round. If the task feels unfamiliar, use the full game guide or its free printable before trying again.
Does this cover everything taught at this level?
No. These games provide focused practice. Grade suggestions do not replace your school’s curriculum, and any Common Core connection applies only to the skill described.