Play with Words

Word practice doesn’t have to feel like another worksheet. Sometimes, all it needs is a game board, a little friendly competition… and the occasional snake sending you back down the board. 🐍😄

Practice Words Through Play is a 35-page printable literacy resource for children aged 6+ years, combining colourful word games with reading, handwriting and picture-based activities.

What Is Practice Words Through Play?

This resource gives children a playful way to practise reading and writing words built around different vowel sounds.

The colourful game boards cover a, e, i, o, u and y words, with children moving around the boards and reading words such as bat, fan, cat, hen, pen, pig, dog, log, sun, mug, fly, and cry. Some boards also introduce a wider variety of words for additional practice.

The games work on a similar principle to Snakes and Ladders. Children move around the board, follow ladders and snakes, and complete instructions along the way. When they land on a word, they read it aloud and can write it on the accompanying practice page. The games can be played independently or with a friend.

But it doesn’t stop at board games.

The resource also includes trace-and-write activities and picture-naming exercises, giving children opportunities to practise the same sound and word skills in different ways. For example, pages 15–17 move from tracing and writing a words to identifying words from pictures.

Why Parents and Teachers Will Love It

Repetition is important when children are learning to read and spell—but repetition doesn't have to mean doing the exact same activity again and again.

Practice Words Through Play mixes literacy practice with games, movement, pictures and handwriting activities, helping children revisit words in several different ways.

One minute they're trying to reach WIN! without being swallowed by a snake. The next, they're tracing a word, writing it independently or naming a picture.

That makes the resource particularly useful for classroom literacy practice, homeschool lessons, tutoring, learning centres, revision and extra practice at home.

Advantages of Practice Words Through Play

• 35-page printable literacy resource
• Designed for children aged 6+ years
• Practises a, e, i, o, u and y words
• Colourful game-board activities
• Snakes-and-ladders-inspired gameplay
• Encourages children to read words aloud
• Includes word tracing and handwriting practice
• Includes picture-naming activities
• Reinforces words through repeated practice
• Encourages word recognition
• Supports reading and spelling practice
• Combines learning with play
• Can be played independently or with a friend
• Useful for classroom, homeschool and home learning
• Provides different activities for practising the same literacy skills

Resource Details

Age: 6+ years
Pages: 35
Focus: Word and sound practice
Word Groups: a, e, i, o, u and y words
Activities: Board games, reading aloud, word writing, tracing and picture naming
Format: Digital printable PDF

This is a digital product. No physical book, game pieces, dice or other materials will be shipped. After purchase, download and print the PDF. Some activities may require multiple copies of the writing page, as explained in the resource instructions.

Because when children are having fun, “practice” has a funny way of not feeling like practice at all.

With Practice Words Through Play, children can strengthen their reading and writing skills while playing, moving, tracing, identifying and—hopefully—avoiding those pesky snakes on the way to the finish line. 🐍🏆