✏️ Writing & pencil control · Ages 4–5 · about 3 weeks

A List for Our Play

Goal: Make and use a short list, adding familiar letters for sounds in chosen words.

For parents: A list helps us remember things we need. Choose only two or three things already at home. Your child can draw and add known letters; you can supply the rest. Say words together and accept an early spelling. No finished-word copying is required.

Do together

  1. Choose what we need

    You need: Paper and a crayon

    Plan a pretend picnic together. Choose two things already at home, such as a cup and a mat. Say each word together. Your child draws or writes one item per line, adding a letter for a sound they know.

  2. Let the list help

    You need: The list and chosen household things

    Ask your child to use the list to collect the two things with you. Read each entry together. Let them tick or mark it when found. If something is missing from the list, add one useful picture, letter or word.

  3. Change our plan

    You need: The list and a crayon

    Decide together to swap one picnic thing for another. Your child crosses out the old entry and draws or writes the new one. Say its name and try a known sound. Use the changed list to set out your pretend picnic.

Talk about it

  • What do we need for our play?
  • Which sound could you write?
  • How did our list help us?

Words to use

  • list
  • need
  • word
  • sound
  • line
  • tick
  • change

Play

  • Word Builder
    Syllables & word building
  • Trace It
    Pre-writing
Play these games free

Every game is free for every family until 20 November 2026.

Your child can…

Ticks are saved on this device only. Move on when most are ticked.