Have children clap the number of syllables in names. Music is especially useful to clap syllables. Each beat is a syllable and can be easily identified and clapped out.
Lay pictures on a table and ask your child to find a picture that starts with the sound of /__/.
Play Take the Sound Away
Starting with a compound word, say the word. (example: baseball) Repeat the word, saying only the first half (base). Ask your child, “What part of the word did I take away?” Mix up the omitted syllable, sometimes leaving off the first syllable, and sometimes leaving off the last syllable.
Continue dropping a syllable from a multi-syllable word:
Continue the game until you are successfully dropping the beginning and ending sounds of one syllable words.
Have your child say a word and ask YOU to identify the missing syllable or sound in each of the activities described above.