Raising a Reader Through Everyday Routines

With summer in full swing, many parents are looking for simple ways to keep their kids engaged without adding pressure or stress. We turned to early childhood expert and Grow With Beck founder, Beck Goodman, for insight. Today Beck is sharing five no-prep activities that fit effortlessly into your day and help build foundational literacy skills through moments of play and connection.

Here’s the truth most parents don’t hear often enough: you’re already doing more for your child’s literacy than you think. Every time you chat in the car, tell a story during bath time, or point out a sign on the street, you’re building essential early reading skills. This post will help you spot those moments and stretch them just a little further—with zero prep and a whole lot of connection.

Whether you’re running errands, getting dressed, or waiting for food at a restaurant, these playful, low-pressure activities can fit right into your day and support foundational literacy skills like phonemic awareness, narrative development, letter recognition, and expressive language. Let’s take a look:

1. I Spy… With a Literacy Twist

When to Try It: In the car, on a walk, or in line at the store
Skill Focus: Rhyming, beginning sounds, listening comprehension

Classic “I Spy” becomes a literacy-building game when you add a language layer.
Try:

•  “I spy something that starts with the ssss sound.”

•  “I spy something that rhymes with car.”

•  “I spy something that has two syllables.”

It’s quick, interactive, and helps kids develop the sound awareness that supports early reading.

2. Story Retelling with Dolls!

When to Try It: During independent play or post-storytime wind down
Skill Focus: Narrative skills, sequencing, comprehension

Acting out stories with dolls, action figures, or stuffed animals helps kids internalize story structure and builds comprehension. You can recreate a favorite book or make up a brand-new version together.

3. One Word Story Game

When to Try It: Waiting at a restaurant, doctor’s office, or during a meal
Skill Focus: Oral language, sentence structure, flexibility

This silly, collaborative game invites each person to contribute one word at a time to build a story together. It encourages listening, sequencing, and lots of laughs.

Start with  “Once…” then go around the table, adding one word at a time: "Once / there / was / a / spaghetti / who / wanted / to / dance..."

Kids love the absurd stories that unfold, and it’s secretly building the brain connections they’ll need for writing later on.

4. Letter Hop

When to Try It: Outside with chalk, or inside with paper taped to the floor
Skill Focus: Letter recognition, gross motor coordination, listening skills

Write letters on the ground in chalk or on paper. Call out a letter or sound, and have your child jump, stomp, or hop onto the correct one.

Mix it up:

• “Jump on the letter that makes the /b/ sound!”

• “Can you spell your name by hopping from letter to letter?”

This simple game connects movement and learning—especially helpful for active kiddos.

5. Go Fishing (or Swimming) for Letters

When to Try It: In the bath, pool, or with a water table
Skill Focus: Letter identification, fine motor skills, memory

Throw foam or plastic letters into a small pool or tub and ask your child to retrieve them one by one.
Add prompts like:

•  “Can you find the letter that’s in your name?”

•  “Get the letter that makes the /t/ sound.”

•  “Grab the letter that rhymes with bee!”

Water play keeps them engaged—and learning sneaks right in.

Final Thoughts

Early literacy isn’t about drilling flashcards or sitting still for long lessons. It’s about helping your child make meaningful connections with language in real life. These simple, no-prep moments of play and conversation are powerful tools for helping your child grow into a confident reader—and you don’t need to do anything extra to make them count.

You’re already their favorite teacher. Let’s keep it fun, simple, and connected.

About Beck: 

Beck Goodman, M.Ed., is the founder of Grow With Beck, an early childhood education initiative that helps families make learning joyful, accessible, and lasting. A Teach For America alum with over a decade of experience, Beck holds a Master’s in Education and has worked extensively with young children to build their confidence, curiosity, and foundational skills.

Beck believes that education should be empowering, engaging, and rooted in play. Her approach meets children where they are—using creativity, connection, and joy to help them thrive. Whether working with toddlers or early elementary students, Beck partners with families to make learning feel both exciting and achievable.

Beck began her career at the YMCA, where she led inclusive, play-based programs designed to support all learners. Today, through Grow With Beck, she works directly with children and develops resources for parents and caregivers who want to bring playful, meaningful learning into their homes.

To learn more about her work, visit growwithbeck.com and follow her on Instagram @growwithbeck