Playing games can promote reading in young children. Word Bingo, one of the simplest of games, is fun for all ages. Children will practice reading without even knowing it!

You can make a Bingo game using names of favorite foods or animals, names of family members or friends, words connected with a child's favorite sport, or words taken from a book you've enjoyed together. The game can be a relaxing follow-up activity to a meal at a favorite restaurant, a trip to the grocery store, a visit to the zoo or science museum, an outing to a sporting event or a shared reading adventure.

To play the game with young children who can recognize letters of the alphabet, but not whole words, try printing just one letter in each square.

Objective: To practice reading letters or words.

1. A Word Bingo card for each player, with words printed in each square. To make each card different, write the words in different locations on each card.


2. An envelope for each player, each containing 25 cut-out squares saying B-1, B-2, O-5, etc. and optionally some "Bad Luck" squares. You can print a page of squares ready to be cut out.

1. Setup: Each player picks a Bingo card and an envelope of squares. Explain that the "Bad Luck" squares make you miss a turn, and leave it up to the child how many he gets, if any. Some children like to have some; others want you to have them all. In any case, be sure you have more than the child to tip the odds in his favor. Each player spreads his squares out, face down on the table.


2. The players take turns drawing from their collection of squares and playing as follows:
   
   
   1. If the player can read the word corresponding to the square drawn, he gets to cover the word with the square.
   
   
   2. If the player can't read the word, he does not cover it, and he puts the square back for a later try. (It's up to you and the child how helpful you are and how many chances you give--handle this to suit your situation.)
   
   
   3. If a player draws a "Bad Luck" square, he doesn't get to cover anything, and it's the other player's turn.
   
   
3. A player can win in either of two ways:
   
   
   1. The first player to cover all of his words wins. This prolongs the game and encourages more reading.
   
   
   2. The first player to cover five words in a row wins.

Thanks to Jane Radatz, OASIS tutor in the Poway School District for sharing the game and instructions.