Our elf has started a rhyming game. He is confident about hat and cat, but the next pair is unfinished. 🐈
Four cards say HAT, CAT, TREE and “?” The note asks “Finish the rhyme.”
This easy elf idea makes a short sound game with just a few handwritten cards.
What you’ll need:
- One official Elf on the Shelf doll (paid link)
- Four small pieces of paper or coloured craft card (paid link)
- A thick pen and a pencil
- A folded cloth and a short note
Setup:
Write HAT and CAT on two cards, then TREE on the third and a big question mark on the fourth. Lay them in two rows so each pair is easy to see. Sit your elf against a folded cloth nearby, with a mitten resting beside the HAT card, and add the “Finish the rhyme” note. In the morning, read the words aloud together and draw attention to the matching end sounds in hat and cat. Invite the children to suggest a word that rhymes with tree: bee, key or three would all fit. Write their choice on another card to replace the question mark, or let them draw a picture if they prefer. The challenge is about hearing the sounds, so younger children do not need to read the cards independently. Try another pair once the elf’s first puzzle is finished.
Make it cheaply:
Use the blank side of scrap paper and make the cards yourself. For children who prefer pictures, draw a hat and a cat, then a tree with an empty card beside it. You can also play the same game aloud with no cards at all, while the elf listens from his little seat.
Try the Christmas carol clue cards or the silly pantry labels for another elf scene.
